Exclusive: New Hollywood blockbuster action flick for Gold Coast with Ron Howard as director
Annastacia Palaszczuk says the Gold Coast is “one of few places in the world where the screen industry is booming” after a major Hollywood director announced his next blockbuster will be filmed in the city. FULL DETAILS >>>
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THAI cave rescue movie Thirteen Lives, to be directed by Hollywood legend Ron Howard, will be filmed on the Gold Coast.
The Morrison Government is to announce funding of $13 million to Imagine Entertainment and MGM to shoot the live-action feature film on the Glitter Strip.
Howard has thanked the Government for support of the Location Incentive program and plans to start filming in March.
The Coast hinterland will double for Thailand as the crew recreates the 2018 rescue of 12 boys and their soccer coach from the flooded, impenetrable cave system.
The boys were exploring the Tham Luang caves in Chiang Rai after soccer practice when monsoon rains hit, trapping them and sparking Thailand’s biggest rescue mission stretching two weeks, requiring more than 1000 divers, soldiers and volunteers.
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Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts Minister Paul Fletcher told the Bulletin the production was expected to inject more than $96 million into the economy, directly creating around 435 jobs for cast and crew, as well as an equivalent 3400 background extra days.
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“Thirteen Lives will tell the remarkable story of the effort by many volunteers, including Australians, to undertake an incredibly complex rescue. And I am proud to say that this story will be told here in Australia,” Mr Fletcher said.
“In addition to recording this remarkable story for posterity, the production itself will create vital job opportunities and will engage the services of an estimated 300 Australian businesses.
“I understand this project will also undertake a significant amount of cutting-edge visual effects work here, a great opportunity for our local post, digital and visual effects companies.”
William Nicholson, the Oscar-nominated writer of Gladiator wrote the feature about the boys’ soccer team, trapped in a cave for days with no supplies and falling oxygen levels, until rescuers including a group of divers from the United Kingdom and Australia arrived.
The film is regarded as another Apollo 13 for Howard because audiences will know the outcome but it remains an edge-of-your-seat thriller.
Howard thanked the government and said he was thrilled to be working in Australia.
“Over the years, I’ve both enjoyed and creatively benefited from collaborations with Australian artists and technicians in front of and behind the camera, from Cate Blanchett, Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe and Chris Hemsworth to John Seale, Donald McAlpine and Andrew Rowlands and many others,” he said.
“From Thirteen Lives to the animated projected I am directing with Animal Logic in Australia, I am excited about the opportunity to film and work in Australia and dramatically expand on that list of collaborators whose sensibilities and work ethic I have long admired and respected.”
MGM’s President of Physical Production, Michele Imperato said: “We thank the Federal Government and Minister Fletcher for their great support and for welcoming the Thirteen Lives production to Australia.”
Thirteen Lives is supported under the Commonwealth’s $400 million boost to the
Location Incentive to create a pipeline of international projects, which will generate tens of thousands of Australian jobs in the screen industry over the next seven years.
The new film blockbuster follows another major recent screen announcement — Escape
from Spiderhead, a Netflix feature film starring Chris Hemsworth, while Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis project in production at Village Roadshow Studios continues to promote the strength of the local film industry.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said securing Thirteen Lives was a major coup for
Queensland.
“The Gold Coast is one of few places in the world where the screen industry is booming,” the
Premier said.
“That’s thanks to the way Queensland has managed this health crisis - ensuring we can secure
productions like Thirteen Lives that will create hundreds of local jobs and pump millions of
dollars into businesses on the Coast.
“The story of this rescue captivated millions of people around the world. It’s great that the
Gold Coast can play a part in ensuring this special production goes ahead.”
Environment Minister and Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon said securing Thirteen Lives
would also create around 3800 days’ employment for extras.
“We’re seeing great demand to produce films and TV series here on the Gold Coast,” she
said.
“The screen industry is an important part of our strategy to create local jobs and rebuild our
economy.
“We’ll continue to work hard to grow this sector and secure more productions like this for the
Coast.”
Screen Queensland CEO Kylie Munnich said Thirteen Lives would recount one of those rare
moments in our shared history when the world held its collective breath and hoped for the
safe emergence of the 13 young boys.
“For a production of such profile and international interest, led by legendary director Ron
Howard, to be filming in Queensland is testament to our burgeoning reputation as a location
of first choice for blockbuster feature films and TV series,” Ms Munnich said.
“Screen Queensland is excited to be welcoming Thirteen Lives to the production paradise that
is Queensland, and is proud of the high number of local cast and crew that will be employed
on the project.”
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