Mark Wahlberg’s Balls Up filming in Brisbane and Gold Coast
A Hollywood star will return Down Under this month to shoot a new action comedy. ALL THE DETAILS
Gold Coast
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Hollywood heavyweight Mark Wahlberg’s love affair with Australia will be rekindled when he shoots a new action comedy in South East Queensland from this month.
Balls Up, penned by the acclaimed writers behind Deadpool, will see Wahlberg and co-star Paul Walter Hauser play two American marketing executives whose reckless antics at a soccer game turn their lives upside-down.
After losing their jobs over a failed client sponsorship, they find themselves the target of a nationwide manhunt following a bout of drunken debauchery.
The movie, directed by Peter Farrelly, known for Green Book and There’s Something About Mary, and produced by Amazon MGM Studios and Skydance, is anticipated to inject an estimated $64.8 million into the local economy, using 250 local cast and crew members.
Screen Queensland CEO Jacqui Feeney said: “The Sunshine State is an ideal place to make high quality films and series, and Screen Queensland is pleased to welcome Balls Up to both Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
“Our industry continues to go from strength to strength, providing long-term career prospects for our local screen practitioners to showcase their skills and experience to global audiences.”
Skydance executive vice-president of physical production Brad Carlson echoed her sentiment, praising Queensland’s urban and rural diversity, robust incentives, and skilled crews as crucial in choosing it for their new production based at the Gold Coast’s Village Roadshow Studios.
“With its wide variety of urban and rural locations coupled with a robust incentive program and talented crew base, Queensland was the perfect choice to base our production,” Mr Carlson said.
Balls Up is part of a significant line-up of productions slated for Queensland this year, showcasing the region’s growing influence in the international film scene, including Ron Howard’s Eden, The Bluff, Good Cop/Bad Cop and Australian productions Dangerous Animals, Black Snow, Rock Island Mysteries and Gettin’ Square sequel Spit.
Wahlberg’s affinity for Australia is well-known, the actor having expressed his love for the country during previous visits.
Earlier this year, the actor was based in Sydney to film Play Dirty alongside Tony Shalhoub, Rosa Salazar and LaKeith Stanfield.
The star has had a number of business interests in Australia, including as an investor in Aussie fitness chain F45.
He also brought his US burger chain Wahlburgers down under, and celebrated the Australian release of his premium tequila brand Flecha Azul earlier this year.
Originally published as Mark Wahlberg’s Balls Up filming in Brisbane and Gold Coast
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