NCIS: Sydney comes to the Territory, filming in Darwin confirmed

Featuring detective work and fight scenes, it has been hinted that crocodiles may also feature in the show’s Darwin double. Read for details.

Conversations with real members of the Naval Investigative Criminal Service has led to the producers of hit TV show NCIS: Sydney to haul its cast and crew north, with two Darwin-centred episodes soon to hit the big screen.

Currently filming season two, NCIS: Sydney follows a small yet capable multinational team of US NCIS agents and Australian Federal Police officers who investigate naval crimes Down Under.

Unbeknown to most Territorians, however, cast and crew of the show have been roaming the greater Darwin region throughout August, capturing detective work, fight scenes and, of course, crocodiles.

From left to right: Todd Lasance, Tuuli Narkle, Screen Territory director Jennie Hughes, Olivia Swann and Sean Sagar on set in Darwin. Picture: Harry Brill.

Head of Scripted of Endemol Shine Australia, Sara Richardson, said the show was taken north following conversations with experts in the real field.

“One of the things they said was that most of the work they did (in Australia) was actually up in Darwin, and they were telling us all of these incredible stories,” she said.

“We got inspired by that and really wanted to showcase the Top End to the world.”

While crew members were coy to reveal episodes’ details, it is understood the NCIS: Sydney team arrives in the Top End to face a much more powerful adversary, threatening the very stability of the region.

Supporting the decision to bring the show north was Screen Territory’s Production Attractive Incentive Program, which targets high-profile film projects with a view to boosting the local economy.

Screen Territory director Jennie Hughes was thrilled Darwin had landed the show.

“It’s enormous, the fact that (Darwin) is going to be seen across Australian and New Zealand but also internationally as well,” she said.

“Just the reach of this series, it’s been incredibly successful out of the US too.

“To be seen by so many people and to help drive that visitation to the Territory – we’re sort of showcasing the Territory to a global and Australian audience, which is fantastic for us.”

Producers of NCIS: Sydney will hope to backup the show’s first season success. Picture: Supplied.

The coup follows other exciting partnerships made by Screen Territory, with another TV crime series, Deadloch, planning to film an entire season in the Top End, as well as neo-western Netflix drama series, Territory, set to premiere in October.

Ms Hughes hinted there were more wins on the way.

If the experience of the cast and crew of NCIS: Sydney is anything to go by, Territorians have done a good job of making the film industry feel right at home.

“It’s just been an awesome experience being here,” Ms Richardson said.

“Everyone’s been so welcoming and friendly – the local crew and all the extras have been fabulous to work with.

“It’s been an absolute pleasure and I can’t wait to find something else to do up here.”

Originally published as NCIS: Sydney comes to the Territory, filming in Darwin confirmed