Daniel MacPherson, the star of the blockbuster film Beast—an MMA redemption story that he stars alongside Russell Crowe and Luke Hemsworth—is coming to Far North Queensland.
MacPherson, who has also starred in Neighbours and Foundation and other top productions, is set to take the stage at Cairns Crocodiles, presented by Pinterest, for the festival’s highly-anticipated closing fireside. Those lucky enough to attend will be blown away by this brilliant Aussie superstar.
In Beast, MacPherson plays Patton James, a former MMA fighter pulled back into the ring under high-stakes personal circumstances, in a story that blends emotional depth with high-intensity action.
Co-written by Crowe and David Frigerio and directed by Tyler Atkins, the film also features Hemsworth, Amy Shark in her screen debut, and former English NRL star George Burgess. It was shot across Sydney, Port Kembla and Bangkok, and is set to land in Australian cinemas just weeks before MacPherson appears in Cairns.
MacPherson will be joined by Poppy Reid, founder of Curious Media and a multi-award-winning journalist, who will lead the fireside conversation. Reid is widely recognised for her work across music and culture, having co-founded Rolling Stone and Variety in Australia, and is known for her sharp, insightful interviews and commentary across the entertainment landscape.
Titled ‘Beyond the Script: Craft, Instinct and Creative Courage’, the session will see MacPherson explore how Australian talent is pushing creative boundaries across film, television and beyond.
Fresh off his latest starring role in Beast, MacPherson reflects on a career shaped by instinct, risk and reinvention, sharing insights into the evolving entertainment landscape. From navigating global productions to embracing new forms of storytelling, this conversation will unpack the role of craft, intuition and creative courage in building a lasting career — and what it takes to stay relevant in an industry constantly in flux.
MacPherson has carved out an international career spanning film, television and theatre. He is widely recognised for roles in Apple TV’s Foundation, the action franchise Strike Back, The Shannara Chronicles and APB, alongside a diverse slate of feature films including Land of Bad, Poker Face, The Cup, Infini and The Osiris Child.
Most recently, he has drawn critical acclaim for his stage work in 2:22 A Ghost Story and The Woman in Black, showcasing his range as a live performer, while continuing to build a global career across Australia and Los Angeles. Earlier in his career, he also hosted Dancing With The Stars Australia for seven seasons, further cementing his place as one of the country’s most recognisable on-screen talents.
MacPherson follows in the footsteps of the event’s now-iconic closing armchair conversations, which have become a defining moment of the program, with previous speakers including Miranda Otto and Richard Roxburgh.
“The popular closing conversation on day three is always a brilliant way to wrap up the festival,” said Cairns Crocodiles content director Pippa Chambers.
“By focusing on a renowned actor and exploring themes of craft, authenticity, intuition and gut instinct, MacPherson will bring a compelling perspective that will resonate with both creative and marketing audiences alike.”
Chambers added: “Actors are constantly walking that line between authenticity and reinvention.
“In an industry evolving this quickly, with AI, new audiences and new formats, that tension has never been more relevant, and it’s a conversation our audience will be genuinely excited by.”
The fireside session will take place at 3:05pm at the Cairns Convention Centre on Thursday May 14th.
MacPherson joins a stacked line-up of speakers at Cairns Crocodiles presented by Pinterest, including Taika Waititi, Academy Award-winning filmmaker, actor and director; Ned Brockman, ultra-endurance athlete and founder of We Are Mobilise; Paula Bloodworth, founder and chief strategy officer at Alien Baby and CMO of Idris Elba’s IE7; David Ohana, chief marketing officer at the UN Foundation; Amy Kean, author, creative strategist and founder of Good Shout; Jane Evans, founder of The Seventh Tribe, author and keynote speaker; Warwick Thornton, film director; Abby Chatfield, media personality, podcaster and presenter – and more!
Get your tickets to the Cairns Crocodiles festival now.
See all speakers here or the Speaker Spotlight series here.
See the full agenda here.
