After his last Australian-based production, The Pacific, Steven Spielberg is expected to return to Australia for another television blockbuster, Terra Nova.
Queensland is one of the frontrunners, as possible location to film Spielberg’s new thirteen-part, $150 million Terra Nova, his science-fiction dinosaur series.
The story centres on the Shannon family who, to escape the apocalypse, travel back in time one-hundred and fifty million years to prehistoric Earth .
Entertainment Weekly claims Life on Mars actor Jason O’Mara has signed to play the Shannon family patriarch.
The drama is also executive produced by agent-turned-producer Aaron Kaplan, Craig Silverstein (Bones) and Kelly Marcel, among others. The story begins in 2149 A.D. when a large group of settlers are preparing to leave the apocalyptic world in which they live to time travel back millions of years. Their goal is to see trees, enjoy a blue sky, eat real food – basically, to start over in this so-called Eden.
Several US websites have claimed filming will begin in Australia this summer, however, Alastair McKinnon, Ausfilm’s head of policy, said it was yet to receive confirmation.
“It could be a week, it could be three months, it could be literally weeks before filming starts, it’s hard to know,” he said.
“Australia is probably one of six or seven potential locations. I think Queensland is the appealing venue at this stage because it has got studio and the tropical location they need. They are looking at Queensland.”
Terra Nova will cost about $4 million an episode and is set to be shot in one go due to the scale of the project, which is said to be “on par with The Pacific in terms of scale” at an estimated cost of around $4 million an episode.
“Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment were very impressed with the depth of our production talent and the experience of our crew when they were filming here, so I think that is part of the reason we are being looked at.” McKinnon added.
He said Australia had lost two major productions recently due to the strength of the Australian dollar, however changes to the Federal Government’s incentive for filmmakers by removing the 70 per cent budget spend requirement – may clinch the Terra Nova deal.
“They will be looking for the best value for money.”
Stephen Lang, Jason O’Mara, Shelley Conn, Landon Liboiron, Naomi Scott, Alana Mansour, Allison Miller, Mido Hamada and Christine Adams have now all been signed to appear on Terra Nova.
It is currently projected to premiere in May of 2011 as a special with regular episodes following in the fall.