The Punk Western You Missed: Ned Kelly’s Wild Legend Is Now on Hulu

Following an actor’s career often leads to unexpected discoveries. I’ve admired George MacKay’s range since Captain Fantastic, so spotting him in an anarchic Australian Western now streaming on Hulu was an easy invitation to press play.

True History of the Kelly Gang turned out to be far from a standard biopic. It rather feels like a fever dream stitched with rebellion, grit, and the occasional frill of lace.

Directed by Justin Kurzel, the film is based on Peter Carey’s Booker Prize-winning novel, and it opens with a disclaimer: "Nothing you’re about to see is true." From there, it charges through the legend of Ned Kelly, blending sweeping outback vistas with bursts of raw violence.

MacKay’s Kelly is shaped by hardship and manipulation from those in power. Determined to push back, he breaks every rule and defies all expectations of an outlaw. In time, he becomes both a folk hero and a dangerous rebel — the kind of character I find most fascinating to watch.

Kurzel surrounds MacKay with a cast that fuels the chaos. Russell Crowe is the volatile Harry Power, Nicholas Hoult a self-assured constable, Essie Davis a mother who wields her son’s rage, and Thomasin McKenzie a rare source of tenderness. Together, they give this punk-soaked Western both edge and heart, lingering long after the final standoff.