The producers of Succession, one of the stars of Bridgerton and a prolific Norwegian director of horror-comedy are teaming up to make a big-budget shark movie in Melbourne.
The as-yet-untitled film from producers Adam McKay (whose vast credits as writer, producer and director include Anchorman, The Big Short and The Menu as well as the multi-award-winning Succession) and Kevin Messick (Succession, the Parasite TV series), is now in pre-production and will begin shooting at Docklands Studios Melbourne in July.
Actress Phoebe Dynevor, one of the breakout stars of season one of Bridgerton, is rumoured to star in an Australian-made shark thriller.Credit: Alberto Pezzali
English actress Phoebe Dynevor, who played Daphne Bridgerton in the first season of the Netflix period drama, is understood to be leading the cast.
Victorian creative industries minister Colin Brooks said the $30 million Sony Pictures production, which had received state government support through the Victorian Screen Incentive Program, would create 700 local screen jobs, including 11 head-of-department roles.
“We’re proud to back this film as part of a pipeline of local and global productions that keep our screen industry buzzing with activity and job opportunities – jobs that are not available everywhere,” he said.
The film is the latest in a long line of titles from writer-director Tommy Wirkola. The Norwegian, whose credits include zom-com Dead Snow, Christmas splatter comedy Violent Night, and fairytale-inspired Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, currently has nine movies in development.
The production will qualify for the federal government’s Location Offset, which is due to transition from a 16.5 per cent rebate to a straight 30 per cent rebate from July 1.
Dynevor played Daphne Bridgerton in the Netflix series.Credit: Netflix
However, while that move has bipartisan support, the legislation to make the transition official is bundled with other measures – including to the petroleum resources rent tax – that could prove more problematic. As a result, there is a risk that the offset will not be in operation by July 1, with the potential that international productions intending to shoot in Australia could be thrown into doubt.