Ausfilm welcomes the announcement today by the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, the Hon. Paul Fletcher, of the Australian Government’s support for the Disney+ live-action drama television series, Nautilus. 

This is the most recent international production attracted to film in Australia with the assistance of the Australian Government’s AU$540 million Location Incentive program and the Queensland Government via Screen Queensland‘s Production Attraction Strategy.

“Following the successful attraction of Ron Howard’s Thirteen Lives and NBCUniversal’s TV series Young Rock and Joe Exotic, to Queensland, it is promising to see that Australia has been chosen yet again to film another major international project, which is undoubtedly a result of the Morrison Government’s Location Incentive program combined with state government support from the Queensland Premier and the incredible reputation of Australia’s talented cast, crew and facilities.”

Kate Marks, CEO, Ausfilm

Nautilus will film at Village Roadshow Studios on the Gold Coast in Queensland from early 2022.

Whilst COVID-19 continues to evolve across the world, Australia’s film and television industry has ensured the continuation of local and international screen production activity by working together to develop, advance and uphold strict COVID Safe filming practices. These guidelines are followed by all productions filming in Australia, in addition to each state’s workplace safety directives and we have seen productions put in place additional safety measures on-set including maintaining workplace bubbles and frequent COVID-testing for all cast and crew. 

The production has received a AU$23.3 million grant from the Australian Government’s Location Incentive program. The Hon. Paul Fletcher said the production is expected to generate more than AU$172 million of local economic activity, including more than 290 jobs for Australian cast and crew, more than 2,200 extra roles and the services of an estimated 200 businesses across the country.

“Australia has had a long and valued partnership with The Walt Disney Company and their subsidiaries, that dates back to the early 2000’s attracting projects like George of the Jungle 2 and Inspector Gadget 2 followed by Pirates of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, Thor: Ragnarok and more recently, Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings, Thor: Love & Thunder and the second season of The Wilds.” says Ms Marks.

“This long-term partnership between Australia and Disney has also extended into supporting Australian post and VFX companies delivering work on projects including Thor: Love & Thunder, Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings, Black Widow, Jungle Cruise,Thor: Ragnarok, Christopher Robin, Captain Marvel, Dumbo, Ant Man, Ant Man & The Wasp, Mary Poppins Returns, Avengers: Age of Ultron, and many more.”

Based on the Jules Verne novel 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, this epic ten part live action series focuses on the origin story of Verne’s iconic character Captain Nemo and his legendary submarine, The Nautilus.

Developed and co-produced by Moonriver TV’s Xavier Marchand and Seven Stories’ Anand Tucker, Nautilus is written and executive produced by James Dormer (Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands) and is executive produced by Johanna Devereaux for Disney+.

Under the Australian Government’s Location Incentive program and with financial support from State Governments across Australia, 24 international productions have been attracted to film in Australia since 2018. A full list can be found here.

FILMING IN AUSTRALIA
For more information about Australia’s screen production incentives, travel and visa support from Ausfilm members and access into Australia, please contact Ausfilm:

Erin Stam
EVP of International Production
Ausfilm USA

FILMING IN QUEENSLAND
For more information about Screen Queensland’s Production Attraction Incentives and locations contact:

Naomi Wenck
Director, Production Attraction & Investment
Screen Queensland

Read the full press release from the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts.

Featured top image credit: Village Roadshow Studios. Courtesy of Screen Queensland and Village Roadshow Studios.