Despite the difficult time for entertainment industries across the world, Village Roadshow Studios has been fortunate to host a large array of productions which continued to keep the film and television industry in action and employ hundreds of cast and crew over the tumultuous last few years.

Rigorous COVID-19 testing and enhanced health and safety procedures implemented by productions, along with the attractive incentives on offer from the federal and state governments, have been the foundation for the growing screen industry in Australia.

On the heels of box-office smash hits such as Thor: Ragnarok (Marvel Studios), Aquaman (Warner Bros.) and Dora and the Lost City of Gold (Paramount), Village Roadshow Studios has increased their impressive slate from 2020 onwards, acquiring their busiest schedule in 35 years.

From mid-June 2022, international audiences can witness Baz Luhrmann’s highly anticipated Elvis. The epic feature began production in 2019 and wrapped in March 2021, utilising all of Village Roadshow Studio’s facilities including their nine sound stages. Starring Austin Butler in the title role and supported by Academy Award winner Tom Hanks, the production also features an array of local talent and was one of the first in the world to regain momentum after the COVID-19 imposed lockdowns to pave the way for the screen industry’s ‘new normal’ during the pandemic.

2021 also saw international series use Village Roadshow Studios facilities including The Wilds: Season 2 (Amazon Studios), local series Rock Island Mysteries (Nickelodeon/Fremantle Media) and biopic True Spirit (Netflix), based on the true story of Australian Jessica Watson, who became the youngest person to sail solo non-stop around the world at just 16.

Village Roadshow Studios has also recently welcomed the team at Working Title Films to Sound Stage 7 for their feature film Ticket To Paradise, directed by Ol Parker (Mamma Mia 2; The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) and starring superstar actors George Clooney and Julia Roberts.

The current year shows no sign of slowing down. Young Rock: Season 2 (Universal) used Stages 3 and 9, Irreverent (Matchbox Pictures) took over Stages 1, 2 and 4 and Australian made comedy series Upright (Foxtel), led by acclaimed writer and comedian Tim Minchin, has just begun pre-production for their second season. Recently announced Godzilla vs. Kong sequel will be underway later this year.

Disney+ announced the blockbuster series Nautilus had begun filming at Village Roadshow Studios in February 2022. Based on Jules Verne’s novel 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, the story follows Captain Nemo (Shazad Latif (Star Trek: Discovery) on his adventure aboard the submarine Nautilus. The series also stars local talent Georgia Flood (Wentworth), Damien Garvey (Harrow) and Pacharo Mzembe (La Brea), with the series predicted to inject AU$96 million into Queensland’s economy and create around 240 jobs for local cast and crew.      

The growing number of productions choosing Village Roadshow Studios, and more broadly Queensland, as their preferred shooting location, is a testament to the number of positive Australian incentives on offer.

The Nautilus series will receive an estimated AU$23.3million from the Morrison Government’s Location Incentive program and additional support from Screen Queensland’s Production Attraction Strategy and the City of Gold Coast’s Film Attraction Fund, the only council in Australia that offers screen funding.

There is also an increased demand for new content through streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Stan, Disney+ as these content creators are seeing first-hand the talent of Australian cast and crews.

Village Roadshow Studios is proud to play a major part in this blossoming era of Australian screen production and looks forward to another bumper year of being Queensland’s home to film and television.
Despite the busy year ahead, Village Roadshow Studios have space available in November.

Story by Amy Raffe.

Contact:

Luane de Oliveira Lucas
Village Roadshow Studios
Executive Operations Assistant
[email protected]
+617 5585 9601

Lynne Benzie
Village Roadshow Studios President
[email protected]
+617 5585 9602