Last week was a pretty huge one for Greg McLean who not only saw his The Darkness open in theaters everywhere, but also had his “Wolf Creek” series hit Austrian network STAN.

We caught up with the Aussie filmmaker who talked to us about the aforementioned, but also looked to the future in both Jungle and The Belko Experiment, the latter penned by Dawn of the Dead‘s James Gunn (director of SLiTHER and Guardians of the Galaxy).

“Belko is done, looks incredible, and yes, I’m 3 weeks away from completing the shoot on Jungle, McLean told us last week. “Both were filmed in Colombia, South America, which was an amazing experience.”

McLean explained to us how he came aboard to direct a film from Gunn, who is now one of Hollywood’s top directors.

My agent sent me this crazy script I read instantly as I’m a massive Gunn fan, and I immediately emailed back and said, “why are you sending my something no one will ever make? It’s so insane and violent and brilliant this will never happen?” His email back was, “It’s financed, they’re shooting a few months and James and Peter Safran are producing.” I flipped and said, “how can I get to direct this!!” So I met the guys, we got along and they liked my take. CUT TO: me standing in a giant set covered with bloodied bodies with a hundred extras in Colombia. Was a great experience and had a ball working with James and Peter. And the cast we assembled was truly insane. Really one of the best ensembles I’ve ever seen and so much fun to work with them.

Just how massive is the cast? It includes Tony Goldwyn, Adria Arjona (“True Detective”), John Gallagher Jr. (10 Cloverfield Lane), John C. McGinley (“Scrubs”), Sean Gunn (Super), David Dalmastian, Michael Rooker (Henry, Slither, “The Walking Dead”), Steven Blakeheart, Owain Yeoman, Rusty Schwimmer, Melonie Diaz, Josh Brener, David Del Rio, Abraham Benrubi, Gail Bean, Joe Fria, Ben Davis, James Earl, Brent Sexton, Mikaela Hoover, Valentine Miele. Truly talented bunch of actors and such a treasured experience creating the movie with them.

McLean went on to tell us that Belko is “insanely violent and totally crazy…and total genius because of it.”

James wrote this amazing script full of heart, hilarious dark humour and amazing characters all wrapped around this wild concept (I won’t give away) so I cannot wait till it comes out and people see the movie.

“Belko revolves around the American Belco company in South America which is mysteriously sealed off at the beginning of a work day,” Gunn explained when announced, “and its employees are ordered to kill each other or be killed themselves. This starts an escalation of violence, where we discover the true nature of each and every Belco employee.”

McLean also talked a bit about Jungle, which stars Thomas Kretschmann (Avengers: Age of Ultron) and Alex Russell (Chronicle, The Host and Carrie) as well as The Woman In Black, Harry Potter and Horns‘ Daniel Radcliffe.

It’s based upon a novel by Yossi Ghinsberg – titled JUNGLE – reciting the true story of an adventure into the Amazon Jungle in 1981 which went horribly wrong. He and two friends met a guide who promised them a “once in a lifetime” journey” into uncharted areas no-one had ever been to before. What unfolds is battle for survival against the elements and a genuinely incredible tale of human determination to live in an extraordinary set of circumstances.

It’s a powerful story, [and] I’m blessed to be working with such talented folks. I really love working with actors and this is really such a great character piece. It’s been an intense shoot and will be for the remaining three weeks so I’m looking forward to reaching the nice, cosey editing room as opposed to abseiling into locations in deep, dark Jungles around the world.

It’s been unique and the making of the movie has really been a “once in a lifetime journey” for all involved.

Watch for more on both these films as they find distribution and receive release dates.