Disney+ live action series to inject $172 million into Australian economy

To be filmed at Village Roadshow Studios, Queensland and on location from early 2022, upcoming Disney+ live-action, drama series - Nautilus - developed and co-produced by Moonriver TV and Seven Stories, is the latest production to be drawn to Australia with $23.3 million in assistance from the Federal Government’s $540 million Location Incentive program.

The Disney+ production is also funded by the Queensland Government via Screen Queensland’s Production Attraction Strategy.

Based on the Jules Verne classic novel 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, this epic ten-part live action series reveals the never before told origin story of Verne’s most iconic character, Captain Nemo and his legendary submarine, The Nautilus.

The Federal Government’s $540 million Location Incentive program is working to support the Australian screen sector to take advantage of the global boom in high-end content production, attracting substantial international series like Nautilus alongside Ron Howard’s Thirteen Lives, and Ticket to Paradise starring George Clooney and Julia Roberts.

To date, the Government has distributed more than $243 million under the Location Incentive to attract 24 international productions to Australia, generating more than $1.89 billion of expenditure in the economy, providing more than 16,100 employment opportunities for local cast and crew, and creating work for over 15,400 businesses that support these big productions.

Federal Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, Paul Fletcher said the production is expected to generate more than $172 million of local economic activity adding “Nautilus will directly create more than 290 jobs for Australian cast and crew, more than 2,200 extras roles, and use the services of an estimated 200 businesses across the country when they begin filming early next year.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk welcomed the global media and entertainment giant Disney back to the state for another big-budget, high-end production which would bring millions into the local economy and create hundreds of jobs.

“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,” Premier Palaszczuk said.

“Supporting the screen industry and luring big budget productions here through our Production Attraction Strategy is a critical part of our Economic Recovery Plan.”

Director of Scripted Original Content at Disney+, Johanna Devereaux, said Jules Verne’s story is a beloved classic all around the world and added “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 is executive produced by Johanna Devereaux for Disney.