Big-budget spectacle-maker Roland Emmerich just began production on his "10,000 B.C." for Warner Bros. The large-scale old-school period piece will shoot mainly in South Africa and New Zealand.

"The epic adventure 10,000 B.C., directed by Roland Emmerich (Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow) and starring Steven Strait (Sky High) and Camilla Belle (When A Stranger Calls) has begun production in New Zealand for Warner Bros. Pictures in association with Legendary Pictures. The announcement was made today by Jeff Robinov, President of Production, Warner Bros. Pictures.

It was a time when man and beast were untamed and the mighty mammoth roamed the earth. A time when ideas and beliefs were born that forever shaped mankind. 10,000 B.C. follows a young hunter (Steven Strait) on his quest to lead an army across a vast desert, battling saber tooth tigers and prehistoric predators as he unearths a lost civilization and attempts to rescue the woman he loves (Camilla Belle) from an evil warlord determined to possess her.

A Centropolis Entertainment production of a Roland Emmerich film, 10,000 B.C. is directed by Roland Emmerich from a screenplay by Emmerich & Harald Kloser, and is produced by Michael Wimer (Welcome to America), Roland Emmerich and Mark Gordon (The Day After Tomorrow). The executive producers are Tom Karnowski (Everything is Illuminated), Harald Kloser, Thomas Tull (Superman Returns) and Bill Fay. The co-producer is Ossie von Richthofen (Welcome to America). The director of photography is Ueli Steiger (The Day After Tomorrow), and the production is designed by Jean Vincent Puzos (Lord of War). The film is being edited by Alex Berner (Perfume: The Story of a Murderer). The composer is Harald Kloser (The Day After Tomorrow). Costumes will be designed by Odile Dicks-Mireaux (The Constant Gardener).

10,000 B.C. will shoot on location in New Zealand, South Africa and Namibia and will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company."