Image: Sunset view over the Gold Coast rainforest hinterland from O'Reilly's, courtesy of Destination Gold Coast
Screen Queensland has revealed that filming begins in Queensland, Australia this August on The Mosquito Bowl starring Nicholas Galitzine (The Idea of You), Bill Skarsgård (Nosferatu), Ray Nicholson (Novocaine) and Tom Francis (Sunset Blvd).
Adapted by Peter Berg from a best-selling book by Buzz Bissinger, The Mosquito Bowlfollows four of America's top College Football stars who set their fame aside to enlist in the Marines after the attack on Pearl Harbor. As they prepare for the brutal invasion of Okinawa, they'll play in a legendary game featuring some of the greatest players in history-a game that, for many, will be the last they ever play.
Minister for the Arts John-Paul Langbroek said that the Crisafulli Government's Production Attraction Strategy has helped build Queensland's international reputation as an ideal home for prestige productions.
"This exciting new Netflix blockbuster will benefit from our local screen sector's extensive experience with high-end action films, including stunt work," Minister Langbroek said. "During production, The Mosquito Bowl will employ about 515 cast and crew, boosting our economy by $80 million."
Jacqui Feeney, Screen Queensland CEO said that Queensland's locations were ideal for The Mosquito Bowl and the production continues the state's trusted partnership with global commissioners such as Netflix to deliver Queensland-made films and series for audiences worldwide.
"Queensland's screen ecosystem delivers consistently and our reputation for realising a director's vision is second to none. We are proud to support a strong pipeline of projects for our local screen practitioners working in production and post-production. Importantly, they also create the opportunity to build the sector's next generation, who gain experience on large scale productions through training initiatives such as our Attachment Program."
Peter Berg, Director of The Mosquito Bowl said: "I'm thrilled to be in Queensland filming The Mosquito Bowl with some of the best crews in the world. The landscapes here are cinematic gold-perfect for bringing this story to life. So far, I've crossed paths with two kangaroos and a couple of pythons, and I'm seriously considering casting them! Huge thanks to Screen Queensland for their incredible support in helping make this production possible."
Debra Richards, Director of Production Policy, APAC at Netflix said: "Thank you to Screen Queensland, and the Queensland and Federal Governments for their support in bringing The Mosquito Bowl, directed by Peter Berg, to the Sunshine State. Queensland consistently punches above its weight in attracting world class screen productions, and we're proud to bring another major Netflix title to the state."
2025 has been a significant year for Screen Queensland, supporting locally made films and series including Allen, Anaconda, Bear Country, FING!, Godzilla x Kong: Supernova, Posthumous, Runner, Spa Weekend, Two Years Later and Voltron. Recent releases include Black Snow, Dangerous Animals, Darby and Joan, Good Cop/Bad Cop, Nautilus, Spit and The Lost Tiger, along with forthcoming films Eden and Mortal Kombat 2.
The Mosquito Bowl is produced by Peter Berg for Film 44, Brian Grazer for Imagine Entertainment and Alex Gayner, written by Peter Berg and Mark L. Smith (The Revenant, Twisters, American Primeval). Ezra Emanuel serves as Executive Producer. This is the latest project out of the creative partnership between Peter Berg's Film 44 and Netflix.
The film is supported by the Australian Government through the Location Offset, the Queensland Government through Screen Queensland's Production Attraction Strategy, and the City of Gold Coast.
