NEMO HEADS NORTH AS DISNEY+ SERIES NAUTILUS DOCKS IN QUEENSLAND

Screen Queensland has announced that studio streaming arm Disney+ will film its live-action sci-fi adventure original series Nautilus at Village Roadshow Studios and surrounding Gold Coast locations from early next year.

 
The ten-part series, based on Jules Verne’s classic novel 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, will chart the never-before-told origin story of Captain Nemo and his legendary submarine. The production will inject an estimated $96 million into Queensland’s economy and create approximately 240 jobs for our highly skilled local cast and crew, plus 350 extras. 

The Nautilus shoot continues a long-standing relationship between the ‘Sunshine State’ and The Walt Disney Company. Previously, the Mouse House filmed Pirates of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales in Queensland, as well as Thor: Ragnarök via their subsidiary Marvel Studios. 

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk noted that the appeal of the state as a production venue is a direct result of her government’s Production Attraction Strategy, a critical part of Queensland’s Economic Recovery Plan. 

“With the series set to release to a massive global audience via the enormously popular streaming platform Disney+, the potential for multiple seasons is a particularly exciting prospect for our local screen workforce,” said Premier Palaszczuk, “not to mention the huge flow-on benefits to Queensland’s economy as my Government continues to strategically invest in our post-COVID recovery.” 

Screen Queensland CEO Kylie Munnich (pictured, left) said, “Nautilus will be a complex production requiring the construction of large-scale sets, together with heavy visual effects and a highly technical set-up for computer-generated creatures and worlds – it’s an epic project on a large scale, scheduled to film in Queensland for many months.” In addition to its sound stages, Village Roadshow Studio’s three water tanks (pictured, above) will be critical to the shoot, alongside expert local crew who are particularly experienced with water work.  

Nautilus tells Verne’s story from Nemo’s point of view: an Indian Prince robbed of his birthright and family, a prisoner of the East India Company and a man bent on revenge against the forces which have taken everything from him. But once Nemo sets sail with his crew on board The Nautilus, he not only battles with his enemy, but he also discovers a magical underwater world, learns to take his place as leader of the crew, and goes on an unforgettable adventure beneath the sea. 

“Jules Verne’s story is a beloved classic all around the world,” said Johanna Devereaux, Disney’s Director of Scripted Original Content, The series reimagines Verne’s classic tale for new generations, building on the legacy in place from the studio’s original 1954 film, 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea (pictured, right). “It’s a huge privilege to bring The Nautilus and her crew to life again in such a bold, exciting way, with a diverse team of creative talent and on-screen characters. The series will be breath-taking, action-packed, and a huge amount of fun.”

RON HOWARD, BRIAN GRAZER TO MENTOR OZ CREW ON GOLD COAST SHOOT

Screen Queensland has partnered with Brian Grazer and Ron Howard’s talent development company, Impact Creative Systems, to transform the careers of four Queensland-based screen professionals through a prestigious attachment opportunity on the set of their latest project, Thirteen Lives. The film adaptation of the 2018 Thai boys’ soccer team cave rescue will commence production on the Gold Coast this March.

Aligned with local on-set skill shortages, the program is now open for applications from emerging screen industry professionals in the areas of costume design, set design, accounting, and assistant directing, to be attached to Thirteen Lives for a period of 12 weeks during production.

Academy Award® winners Brian Grazer and Ron Howard (pictured, above), director on Thirteen Lives, said the philosophy of Impact to discover, cultivate and empower the next generation of creative storytellers worldwide, has been extended to unearth talented production-focused practitioners.

“We’re excited about the potential for Impact to transform careers in areas where the screen industry, in Queensland but also globally, is experiencing particular skill shortages,” said Mr Grazer and Mr Howard, via a  joint statement.

“It’s also a deep part of our philosophy and approach to give back to the locations where we are filming and this program is a great way of providing emerging screen professionals of promise the opportunity to work on a major feature film in their own backyard.”

In addition to these attachment opportunities, Thirteen Lives is estimated to employ more than 275 cast and crew and inject around $45 million into the Queensland economy.

Screen Queensland CEO Kylie Munnich (pictured, right) praised Impact for their commitment to help develop the next wave of screen industry professionals, from a diverse range of disciplines, in the state.

“For every production Screen Queensland supports, attachments are an obligation as part of a proven strategy to grow and diversify the local industry.

“As demand for Queensland as a production location continues to escalate, these kinds of initiatives are vital to creating a viable industry to rival other major screen hubs globally,” Ms Munnich said.

The on-set experiences of the four successful candidates will also be documented as part of a bespoke digital campaign including regular video diaries and social media updates.

For more information and to apply visit https://www.impact-australia.com/crews . Applications close 14 February 2021.