Jakarta – Indonesian studio Visinema has revealed plans for Perang Jawa (The Java War), a Southeast Asian war epic directed by company founder Angga Dwimas Sasongko. The ambitious production is slated to begin in 2027, with Gita Wirjawan serving as executive producer and Taufan Adryan as producer.
The film will depict the five-year war led by Prince Diponegoro against Dutch colonial forces from 1825 to 1830 — a conflict that claimed more than 200,000 lives and shook the foundations of the Dutch East Indies. The announcement comes a day after the 200th anniversary of the war’s outbreak on July 20, 1825.
Written by Citra Award winner Ifan Ismail in close collaboration with renowned Diponegoro scholar Peter Carey, the screenplay draws from The Power of Prophecy: Prince Dipanagara and the End of an Old Order in Java, 1785–1855. Diponegoro’s fight became a lasting symbol of resistance, inspiring generations of Indonesians until the nation’s independence in 1949.
For Visinema, Perang Jawa marks a dramatic tonal shift after the runaway success of Jumbo, its animated family film that became Southeast Asia’s highest-grossing animation and, as of June 1, the top-grossing Indonesian film of all time.
Sasongko said the creative team aims to deliver “a regionally rooted, globally resonant cinematic experience,” combining immersive world-building with the spiritual weight of Diponegoro’s struggle. “We want audiences to feel the war’s atmosphere, chaos, and stakes — all through a distinctly Southeast Asian lens,” he added.
Wirjawan emphasized that Diponegoro fought not for territory or power, but for respect, identity, faith, heritage, and sovereignty — values he called timeless and underrepresented in regional storytelling.
Casting, co-production partners, and international distribution plans will be announced in due course. Visinema hopes Perang Jawa will stand as a new benchmark for Southeast Asian historical cinema, bridging local heritage with global audiences.
