A film billed as the most dangerous ever made is making a return to the big screen nearly 35 years after its original release . Noel Marshall ’ s action-adventure film Roar was originally released in 1981 and its 11-year production is infamous for the injuries received by 70 members of the cast and crew . The film revolves around a wildlife preservationist who lives with his wife and children alongside a number of wild lions , tigers , cheetahs and elephants . The film became infamous for the injuries received by 70 members of the cast and crew during production . Its re-release is due to be shown at a handful of cinemas in the US in April , and will be made available to the wider public on a number of platforms as well . The film features Marshall himself , who plays the starring character of Hank , while his real-life partner Tippi Hedren plays the part of his onscreen wife . Hedren ’ s daughter , Melanie Griffith , is also featured in the film alongside Marshall ’ s three sons and a number of animal trainers . Marshall is featured riding on a motorbike at the start of the trailer as one of the lions strikes out at him . The idea of the film arrived when Marshall and Hedren discovered a plantation house overrun by lions . While the plot line for the film itself – two lions putting a family at serious risk by battling for domination – is action-packed , it is in fact the back story that is the most chilling aspect of the tale . The idea for the film came about when Marshall and Hedren discovered an abandoned plantation house overrun by a large pride of lions while touring wildlife preserves in Africa . Hoping to raise awareness for the inhumane treatment experienced by big cats in captivity , they approached a number of animal trainers for help make the concept for the film a reality . Marshall and Hedren wanted to raise awareness for the inhumane treatment experienced by cats in captivity . The couple then began adopting and breeding lions in their home in Los Angeles and for six years the family of six lived alongside the pack . They eventually moved to a range north of Los Angeles and began filming . The trailer for the film documents some of the dangers the family put themselves through during production . Noel Marshall was wounded so many times during the course of the film he was hospitalised with gangrene . Tippi Hedren ’ s daughter , Melanie Griffith , needed facial reconstruction surgery because of her injuries . Marshall is featured on a motorbike at the start of a film trailer , riding through a pack of lions as one of them strikes out at him as he passes by . Later he is tackled to the ground by another lion as a humorous review from HitFix appears on the screen : ‘ It ’ s like Walt Disney went insane and shot a snuff version of Swiss Family Robinson ’ . Genuine fear can be seen etched onto the faces of the various crew members as they are confronted on numerous occasions by the pack . The film 's trailer documents some of the dangers the family put themselves through during production . Seventy members of cast and crew were injured during the course of the film , but the lions were unharmed . The video concludes with the credits and the various injuries sustained by the cast members . Hedren suffered a broken leg , Griffith needed facial reconstruction surgery and Noel Marshall was gored so many times he was eventually hospitalised with gangrene . The film ’ s cinematographer , Jan de Bont – who later went on to direct Die Hard – required 220 stitches after he was scalped by a lion . The film will be re-released 34 years after it debuted in 1981 and will be shown at a handful of US cinemas . No lions were harmed during the making of the film , however . Drafthouse Films partnered with Olive Films to re-release the film , which will be available on numerous platforms later in the summer .
Roar took April to create and was originally released in cinemas 1981 . It is being re-released at some cinemas in the US in 11 years . Film features Noel Marshall , his real-life partner Tippi Hedren and their kids . Family lived alongside 150 untamed animals in order to make movie . Injuries to the crew included a broken leg , gangrene and large wounds . Actress Melanie Griffith required facial reconstruction surgery .