We may not be Gossip Girl, but we do have some juicy news! Queensland steps back into the spotlight (did it ever really leave?) with the highly anticipated series Good Cop/Bad Cop now streaming on The CW and Roku in the US and Stan in Australia. The series stars Gossip Girl’s Leighton Meester, along with Luke Cook (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) and Clancy Brown (Billions) and it’s already the talk of the town.
The eight-part dramedy takes us to the fictional small town of Eden Vale in Washington State, where a brother-and-sister detective duo, Lou (Leighton Meester) and Henry (Luke Cook) must navigate eccentric locals, limited resources and a whole lot of family drama—especially with Big Hank (Clancy Brown), their police chief dad, calling the shots. Queensland’s lush scenery spanning the Gold Coast and Scenic Rim, plus the state-of-the art Village Roadshow Studios, provides the perfect backdrop doubling as the Pacific Northwest, but without the constant drizzle!
The region’s stunning landscape, the pine forest, beautiful creeks, the charming town of Canungra and scenic Tambourine Mountain were key in bringing this series to life and just a 30-minute drive from the Gold Coast.
The production, a collaboration between The CW, Roku, Future Shack Entertainment, Jungle Entertainment and Stan, was secured for the region thanks to Screen Queensland’s Production Attraction Strategy contributing more than $14 million for the Queensland economy and nearly 200 employment opportunities for cast, crew and creatives.
Screen Queensland CEO Jacqui Feeney echoed the excitement, saying,
“Our world-renowned crews, stunning locations, and cutting-edge facilities are all part of why the state continues to attract major productions. It’s also a great opportunity to showcase Queensland talent across directing, writing, cinematography and more.”
Showrunner John Quaintance (Reboot, Will & Grace) couldn’t be happier.
“I chose to shoot in Queensland because I saw firsthand what I’d already heard from friends who had based productions there—the facilities are first class, the talent pool in front of and behind the camera is deep, and everyone I met was welcoming and excited to help us make our show” he said.
Chloe Rickard, Executive Producer from Jungle Entertainment, praised the Scenic Rim as the ideal small-town backdrop.
“These lush natural environments have drawn us to the state, and Screen Queensland’s support has been exceptional.”
Post-production was handled by fellow Ausfilm member Cutting Edge, with Queensland’s top creatives stepping into key roles, including writing, directing, production design, and cinematography.
Queensland continues to prove its star power and capitalise on its growing reputation as a go-to filming destination, with recent production announcements including Anaconda, Spa Weekend and Voltron.
So, get ready for intrigue, laughs, and drama—XOXO.
Screen Queensland is the state government-owned screen agency for one of Australia’s leading production destinations, offering bespoke location services and competitive incentives. The Production Attraction Incentive is available to productions with a minimum spend of AU$3.5 million in the state and can be used in conjunction with the federal government’s Location Offset. The 15% Post, Digital, Visual Effects (PDV) Incentive is available to projects spending a minimum AU$250,000 on qualifying PDV. Screen Queensland also offers location and scouting assistance and operates Screen Queensland Studios in Brisbane and Cairns.
Screen Queensland offers location and scouting assistance and operates Screen Queensland Studios in Brisbane and Cairns. For more information about Screen Queensland incentives, location services and Queensland-based post-production facilities, contact:
LOCATIONS AND INCENTIVES
Naomi Wenck – Head of Production Attraction
[email protected]
SCREEN QUEENSLAND STUDIOS
Mark Melrose – Head of Studios and Physical Production
[email protected]
+61 401 965 083