Axed Disney+ series Nautilus shot in Australia finds new home on Stan

One of the most expensive shows ever made in Australia was brutally axed by Disney last year, and now, it’s been thrown a lifeline by a local streamer.

The most expensive TV series ever made in Australia was doomed to never see the light of day after it was brutally axed by Disney last year.

And now, more than a year after the studio’s returning CEO Bob Iger made the decision to cut British adventure TV series Nautilus post-production, the $300 million show has been scooped up by local streamer, Stan, with all episodes to drop at once on a yet-to-be-announced date.

Originally commissioned for Disney+, the 10-part series filmed in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast for several months in 2022, employing a largely-local crew.

But in May last year, just months after filming wrapped in February, the production company announced its plan to remove up to 50 titles from its slate as a tax writedown, as the company pushes its focus toward profitability.

Adventure series Nautilus has been picked up by Stan.

The adventure series cost $300 million to make.

A slew of already-released shows and movies were quickly deleted from the streamer in the aftermath of the announcement, including Marvel’s Runaways, Stargirl, Artemis Fowl, Cheaper by the Dozen and Willow, while certain shows like Nautilus suffered the fate of being killed before release.

A prequel to Jules Verne’s science fiction novel titled 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Nautilus follows Indian Prince Captain Nemo (played by UK actor Shazad Latif), a prisoner hellbent on seeking revenge after being robbed of his birthright and family.

Australian actress Georgia Flood co-stars as Humility Lucas.

Production on Nautilus took place across Queensland in 2022 and into 2023. Picture: Josh Woning

It was originally commissioned for Disney+ before being axed last year. Picture: Chris DELMAS / AFP

“Nautilus is an exciting new addition to our content slate,” said Stan Chief Content Officer Cailah Scobie.

“As always, Stan is committed to supporting the Australian screen industry and bringing premium content to the platform, and Nautilus’ high calibre is a testament to the hundreds of talented cast and creatives who worked on the series during its production in Queensland.”

Meanwhile, Screen Queensland CEO Jacqui Feeney said it was one of the “largest series” to be made locally, showcasing the “skill and artistry of hundreds of our local screen practitioners on an incredible scale.”

Nautilus, which was produced by Moonriver TV and Seven Stories, was estimated to have injected $96 million into the local economy.

Overseas, Amazon Prime Video have acquired the series for release in the UK and Ireland, while cable television network AMC will broadcast it in the US and Canada.