The Palaszczuk Government and Screen Queensland today announced Disney+ will film its brand new live-action sci-fi adventure original series Nautilus at Village Roadshow Studios and surrounding Gold Coast locations from early next year.
The ten-part series, based on Jules Verne's classic novel 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, will chart the never-before-told origin story of Captain Nemo and his legendary submarine, The Nautilus.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk welcomed the global media and entertainment giant Disney back to Queensland for another big-budget, high-end production which would bring millions into the local economy and create hundreds of jobs.
"The production Nautilus will inject an estimated $96 million into Queensland's economy and create approximately 240 jobs for our highly skilled local cast and crew, plus 350 extras," the Premier said.
"The Walt Disney Company filmed Pirates of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales in Queensland, as well as Thor: Ragnarök via their subsidiary Marvel Studios, so we are thrilled that one of the biggest names in the global screen industry has once again chosen our state.
"Supporting the Screen industry and luring big budget productions here through our Production Attraction Strategy is a critical part of our Economic Recovery Plan.
"With the series set to release to a massive global audience of Disney and sci-fi fans, via the enormously popular streaming platform Disney+, the potential for multiple seasons is a particularly exciting prospect for our local screen workforce, not to mention the huge flow-on benefits to Queensland's economy as my Government continues to strategically invest in our post-COVID recovery."
Screen Queensland CEO Kylie Munnich said that competitive state and federal incentives, in combination with skilled local crew and Village Roadshow Studios' world-class facilities, are a large part of why Disney selected the sunshine state.
"Nautilus will be a complex production requiring the construction of large-scale sets, together with heavy visual effects and a highly technical set-up for computer-generated creatures and worlds – it's an epic project on a large scale, scheduled to film in Queensland for many months," said Ms Munnich.
"In addition to its sound stages, Village Roadshow Studio's three water tanks will be critical to this production, alongside expert local crew who are particularly experienced with water work – other key factors that positioned Queensland as a stand-out candidate to bring this highly anticipated series to life."
For the first time ever, Nautilus tells Verne's story from Nemo's point of view: an Indian Prince robbed of his birth right and family, a prisoner of the East India Company and a man bent on revenge against the forces which have taken everything from him.
But once Nemo sets sail with his ragtag crew on board the awe-inspiring The Nautilus, he not only battles with his enemy, but he also discovers a magical underwater world, learns to take his place as leader of the crew, and goes on an unforgettable adventure beneath the sea.
Johanna Devereaux, Disney's Director of Scripted Original Content, says the series reimagines Verne's classic tale for new generations, building on Walt Disney's long history with the story which began with the original 1954 film, 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea.
"Jules Verne's story is a beloved classic all around the world," Ms Devereaux said.
"It's a huge privilege to bring The Nautilus and her crew to life again in such a bold, exciting way, with a diverse team of creative talent and on-screen characters.
"The series will be breath-taking, action-packed, and a huge amount of fun."
Developed and co-produced by Moonriver TV's Xavier Marchand and Seven Stories' Anand Tucker, Nautilus is written and executive-produced by James Dormer (Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands), and executive-produced for Disney by Johanna Devereaux.
Currently in production in Queensland is Universal Studios Group's series Joe Exotic at Brisbane's Screen Queensland Studios, Rock Island Mysteries for Fremantle Australia, the Netflix biopic True Spirit and new ABC Crime Series Troppo, with production on Universal Pictures' Ticket to Paradise, starring Julia Roberts and George Clooney, to start later in the year.
