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Academy Award-winning Hollywood director Ron Howard makes a return to the Gold Coast with a start to filming of his survival thriller Eden from Monday.
Howard, who filmed the story of the Thai cave miracle Thirteen Lives on the Gold Coast in 2021, is recreating a Galapagos Islands setting for his latest feature film.
The production, which was written by Tetris screenwriter Noah Pink, stars Jude Law, Ana de Armas, Vanessa Kirby, Daniel Brühl and Sydney Sweeney.
The production was secured by the Queensland Government via Screen Queensland’s Production Attraction Strategy and supported by the Federal Government’s Location Incentive.
Howard, who is co-producer of Eden with Brian Grazer and Karen Lunder through their company Imagine Entertainment, says he’s pleased to be back in Australia for his latest production.
“I have always been impressed with the professionalism and creative spirit of the Australian film community,” Howard says.
“My experience with our Queensland crew on Thirteen Lives only confirmed that and more.
“I’m thrilled with the opportunity to bring Eden to Queensland and continue the collaboration.”
Screen Queensland CEO Jacqui Feeney says Howard’s return to Queensland affirms the state’s growing reputation as a centre for film production globally.
“Mr Howard’s appreciation for our highly experienced crews and creatives, stunning locations, first-class facilities and generous production incentives is cemented by his return with this latest production,” Feeney says.
“Our state’s screen sector is achieving record-breaking levels of production expenditure, as demonstrated by the recent Screen Australia Drama Report, and Screen Queensland is proud to support a robust roster of homegrown films and series as well as high-profile international projects.”
The production of Eden is expected to generate an estimated $26.5 million for the Queensland economy and create more than 300 local jobs.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk notes that since 2015, the state's Production Attraction Strategy has generated $2 billion for the economy and created more than 20,000 jobs.
“Ron Howard’s return to Queensland reinforces our state’s renowned reputation as a destination of choice for the world’s leading filmmakers,” Palaszczuk says.
“Our government’s commitment to developing Queensland’s screen industry secures high-profile local, national and international film and series, which ultimately creates good local jobs.”
In a move aimed at Queensland capturing a bigger share of the film production market, the $12.6 million Screen Queensland Studios will open in Cairns early next year.
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