)
The Australian film industry continues to attract Hollywood productions and talent to our shores with the cameras set to roll on action comedy film Balls Up this month in Queensland, starring actor Mark Wahlberg and directed by Peter Farrelly of Something About Mary fame in the late 1990s.
The Amazon MGM Studios and Skydance film follows two American marketing executives, played by Wahlberg and Paul Walter Hauser (The Instigators, Inside Out 2) who are fired for blowing a client sponsorship opportunity and decide to use their free tickets to a major soccer match.
The pair's drunken debauchery leads them to be hunted by every person across the country.
The script is written by Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese who have worked on Deadpool together, and the movie will also star Saturday Night Live great Molly Shannon and Argentinian actor Eva De Dominici who starred in the Fox crime drama series The Cleaning Lady.
Related stories: Indian film superstar Priyanka Chopra Jonas to star in Gold Coast production 'The Bluff'
Australia's answer to MTV reality hit Jersey Shore to be filmed in Cairns
Olivia Colman, John Lithgow to star in South Australian film Jimpa
Screen Queensland CEO Jacqui Feeney said that securing Balls Up highlights how Queensland’s combination of competitive incentives, versatile locations and the strong international reputation of local crews and facilities continues to kick goals for the screen sector.
“The sunshine state is an ideal place to make high quality films and series and Screen Queensland is pleased to welcome Balls Up to both Brisbane and the Gold Coast,” Feeney said.
“This production from Amazon MGM Studios and Skydance will generate an estimated $64.8 million for the Queensland economy, employing approximately 250 local cast and crew, as well as utilising small businesses.
“Our industry continues to go from strength-to-strength, providing long-term career prospects for our local screen practitioners to showcase their skills and experience to global audiences.”
Skydance's EVP of physical production, Brad Carlson, said several factors influenced the decision to make Balls Up in Queensland.
“With its wide variety of urban and rural locations coupled with a robust incentive program and talented crew base, Queensland was the perfect choice to base our production,” Carlson said.
Producers include Skydance’s David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Don Granger, as well as Andrew Muscato, Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese.
Balls Up joins a solid slate of films and series to be made in Queensland this year, including Ron Howard’s Eden, The Bluff, Good Cop/Bad Cop and Australian productions Dangerous Animals, Black Snow, Rock Island Mysteries and Gettin’ Square sequel, Spit.
The film will be based out of Village Roadshow Studios.
)
