The screen adaptation of Liane Moriarty novel Apples Never Fall to film on the Gold Coast

A blockbuster screen adaptation of a best-selling Liane Moriarty novel will film in Queensland from March in another filming coup for the state, with an all-star cast attached

A television adaptation of best-selling Liane Moriarty novel Apples Never Fall will be filmed in Queensland, with Hollywood actor Annette Bening and Sam Neill set to star.

In a production coup for the state, the limited series, based on the latest novel by the acclaimed Australian author, will begin production on the Gold Coast in March, injecting more than $79 million into the Australian economy.

Bening, a four-time Academy Award-nominated actor, will play the role of Joy Delaney while Neill stars as her husband, Stan, in the psychological thriller from the best-selling Big Little Lies author.

Actress Annette Bening attends AARP The Magazine's 21st annual movies for grownups awards at the Beverly Wilshire, in Beverly Hills, California, January 28, 2023. Photo: Valerie MACON / AFP

It is a return to home soil for Moriarty, who will serve as an executive producer on the project, after the adaptation of her previous novel, Nine Perfect Strangers, filmed in Byron Bay in 2020.

After she published Apples Never Fall in September 2021, Universal International Studios’ Heyday Television won the competitive screen rights within months and landed a straight-to-series order at Peacock, NBCUniversal’s streaming service in the US.

After securing the production for Queensland, Matchbox Pictures, which is part of Universal International Studios, will manage the production locally.

It continues the pipeline of projects brought to Queensland by the Matchbox and Universal Studio Group partnership, including series Young Rock and Joe vs Carole.

Apples Never Fall author Liane Moriarty will serve as executive producer on the television adaptation in Quensland. Source: Supplied

“We’re thrilled to bring another premium series to Australia,” said Universal International Studios president Beatrice Springborn. “We’ve had wonderful experiences with the local teams on past productions and are grateful for the support.”

The production is supported by the Federal Government’s Location Incentive with additional support from the Queensland Government via Screen Queensland’s Production Attraction Strategy.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk expected the project to contribute around $29.5 million to Queensland’s economy and create nearly 200 jobs for local cast and crew with an additional 1000 roles for extras.

“After the success of Young Rock and Joe vs. Carole, it’s fantastic that Apples Never Fall will also benefit from Queensland’s highly skilled crews, picture-perfect locations and world-class facilities,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

Actor Sam Neill. Photo: Yianni Aspradakis/FOXTEL magazine

Set in Sydney, Apples Never Fall is a psychological thriller following married couple Joy (Bening) and Stan (Neill), who have finally sold their famed tennis Academy when Joy disappears, forcing their four adult children to re-examine their family relationships.

Federal Arts Minister Tony Burke, said: “Productions like this create jobs for our arts and entertainment workers. I’m really pleased to see a novel by a great Australian author being retold for the screen.”

Melanie Marnich serves as writer, showrunner and executive producer of the limited series, while David Heyman will executive produce alongside Moriarty, Albert Page and Jillian Share.

Chris Sweeney, of The Tourist and Back to Life, will direct the first episode and multiple others in the series.

The first international production to begin in Queensland in 2023, Apples Never Fall follows the screen adaptation of fellow local novel Boy Swallows Universe, which recently wrapped filming in Brisbane.