There are some casting choices that feel right on paper, and then there are the rare ones that hit you immediately — the kind where the second the audition is over, you know you’ve found something special. Bringing Jack Mitsch onto FENECH – The Jeff Fenech Story to play Detective Carmody was one of those moments. From the minute Jack stepped into the material, there was a presence about him that was impossible to ignore. He has that rare combination every filmmaker hopes to find but almost never does — natural screen charisma, instinctive emotional truth, and the kind of star quality that simply can’t be taught.

As a director, it’s not often I get genuinely blown away by an actor’s talent, especially when they haven’t spent a lifetime grinding through the industry. Usually, it takes years and years for performers to develop the kind of confidence, nuance, and magnetism needed to truly command the screen. But Jack is one of those rare exceptions. He has everything. He has the look, the confidence, the emotional accessibility, and that hard-to-define energy that makes you sit up and pay attention. The moment he auditioned, it was obvious we were looking at someone with enormous potential. I genuinely believe this guy is the next Chris Hemsworth. That may sound like a huge call, but I stand by it completely. Mark my words — Jack Mitsch is going to be huge.

What makes this casting even more exciting is the importance of the role itself. Detective Carmody is not a throwaway part in FENECH. He is a significant character within Jeff Fenech’s story — a figure who connects directly to one of the more dramatic and emotionally charged aspects of Jeff’s life and family journey. Carmody plays a role in bringing in Jeff’s brother, who went through his own serious struggles with the law. That makes the character more than just a uniform or an authority figure. He represents pressure, consequence, tension, and the very real world that existed around Jeff and his family at a time when so much was happening in their lives. To get this role right, we needed an actor who could carry weight, intensity, and credibility — someone who could walk into a scene and instantly feel authentic.

That is exactly what Jack did. He didn’t just read the lines. He understood the function of the character in the broader story and found the human truth inside him. He brought strength without overplaying it, authority without cliché, and tension without losing control. There was a confidence in his audition that felt beyond his years, and more importantly, there was a truthfulness to his performance that made Detective Carmody feel real. Casting this role was important because if it didn’t land properly, the dramatic impact of those scenes would suffer. Jack absolutely killed the audition and made the decision an easy one. When an actor comes in and removes all doubt, that’s a very good day as a filmmaker.

One of the most exciting things about Jack is that he feels like an actor right on the edge of something big. There’s a hunger there, but also a confidence. He doesn’t feel manufactured. He feels like the real deal. In this industry, audiences can spot authenticity from a mile away, and Jack has that. He carries himself like someone born to be on screen. There’s a grounded masculinity to him, but also a modern vulnerability that makes him compelling to watch. Those qualities are what turn a good actor into a star, and I truly believe Jack has that star trajectory ahead of him.

His credits already show a young actor building a strong and varied foundation. Audiences may recognise him from NCIS: Sydney, where he appeared as Corporal Carson Buckley in the action-adventure-crime series. It’s a credit that places him in a professional screen environment with an internationally recognised franchise, and it’s one that reflects the confidence the industry is already beginning to place in him. Beyond that, Jack has continued to sharpen his craft through a range of short films, each one giving him room to explore different tones and character types.

And that is why his casting in FENECH feels so exciting. This film is about grit, heart, family, loyalty, struggle, and survival. Every role matters. Every character has to feel lived in. Every actor needs to come in ready to bring truth to a story that means so much to so many people. Jack understood that. He came into the audition process and did exactly what a great actor should do — he made us believe him. He made the character feel immediate, specific and dangerous in the right ways. That’s what great casting is all about.

There is also something incredibly rewarding about being able to spot talent at the right moment — before the rest of the world catches up. As filmmakers, we are always searching for those actors who have the goods before everybody else starts calling. Jack Mitsch is one of those discoveries. He may already have some strong credits to his name, but I genuinely believe FENECH is the kind of project that can put a spotlight on exactly what he’s capable of. This role gives him the opportunity to step into a film with scale, emotional heft, and a powerful Australian story at its centre. And from what I’ve already seen, he is more than ready for it.

I have no doubt audiences are going to respond to him. He has presence. He has confidence. He has edge. And perhaps most importantly of all, he has that thing every star needs — charisma you cannot fake. It jumps off the screen. That’s why I say what I say about him. That’s why I believe so strongly in what he can become. Some actors arrive and you think they’ll do well. Others arrive and you know they’re destined for much bigger things. Jack is the latter.

We are incredibly proud to welcome Jack Mitsch to FENECH – The Jeff Fenech Story as Detective Carmody. It was an important role to cast, and we could not be happier with who we found. Jack came in, owned the audition, and proved he belongs in this film. More than that, he proved he’s an actor people should be paying attention to right now.

Remember the name.

Jack Mitsch.

Because he’s coming — and he’s going to be massive.