Premier’s dealings to bring King
“SEE you in Queensland”.
That was the text from Hollywood director Baz Luhrmann to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk yesterday to seal a deal to film his Elvis Presley biopic to the Gold Coast.
The $100 million shoot about the King of Rock and Roll’s life will shake up the Glitter Strip early next year.
The location was announced suddenly in State Parliament during Question Time yesterday but the Bulletin can reveal Ms Palaszczuk found out it was a done deal seconds before taking to her feet.
Ms Palaszczuk said locking in the Gold Coast was a culmination of secret negotiations conducted across the world during the past three weeks.
It began with dinner in London on April 12.
“I was in London and got an urgent call to meet Baz. It was supposed to go for 30 minutes but ended up running for more than an hour. We had dinner afterwards as we talked about what Queensland and the Gold Coast has to offer.
“Baz had heard really positive reports of the film industry here and Warner Brothers had a great experience with Aquaman.
“We spoke extensively about the Gold Coast, what the city has to offer – the accommodation, the great food, The Spit masterplan, the walking trails and the beaches.”
The negotiations continued after Ms Palaszczuk returned to Australia, with Luhrmann interrupting a casting session to sign a deal at 9.17am yesterday.
Luhrmann said: “Australia continues to be one of the great filmmaking locations in the world where we’ve created everything from Paris cabarets to the Jazz Age in New York.
“Since shooting significant portions of Australia in Queensland, I’ve been excited to get back to such a conducive, creative environment.
“I am committed to not only making the film but developing Queensland’s creative culture and supporting filmmakers, storytellers and artists in the same manner that we ourselves were supported and mentored early in our careers.”
Luhrmann is expected to visit the Gold Coast to scout locations in the second half of the year before cameras roll early next year.
Ms Palaszczuk was full of praise for the director behind Strictly Ballroom, Moulin Rouge and William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet.
“He texted me after the deal was done to say ‘see you Queensland’,” she said.
“Baz is larger than life, he’s such a decent and down-toearth guy with such creativity.”
The as-yet untitled film will star Tom Hanks – best known for roles in Forrest Gump, and Cast Away – as Presley manager Colonel Tom Parker. An international search will cast Elvis.
It is expected to employ 900 across set construction, catering and transport, and inject $105 million into the economy. It will mainly be filmed at Village Roadshow and Oxenford.
Mayor Tom Tate said he was all shook up by the news.
“It’s an amazing coup. It is the cream of acting and directing talent,” he said.
“It is the ultimate stamp of approval to bring the best actor and top Australian director to come to the Gold Coast. It is the gold standard of production to have legendary Australian director Baz Luhrmann and Oscar-winning Tom Hanks coming to the Gold Coast.”
BULLETIN VIEW, P18
in