Minjerribah sets the scene for The Wilds filming

Redlands Coast has once again proven itself a haven for the international screen industry, with scenes for season 2 of hit Amazon Prime show The Wilds filmed on North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah).

The Wilds centres around a group of teenage girls from different backgrounds who find themselves marooned on an island, unaware they are part of an elaborate social experiment.

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said the filming, which occurred at picturesque Deadman’s Beach, Frenchman’s Beach, South Gorge, Flinders Beach and on Southern Moreton Bay, was great news for Redlands Coast.

“The production team undertook five filming blocks between April and August, with about 200 cast and crew staying on the island during this time,” Cr Williams said.

“This entailed about 4000 bed nights with local accommodation providers including Pandanus Palms Resort, Samarinda Jewel by the Sea, Stradbroke Island Beach Hotel, Allure Resort, Whale Watch Ocean Beach Resort, Anchorage on Straddie, The Islander Holiday Resort, Discover Stradbroke and Dolphin Holiday Accommodation.

“It is anticipated the production provided a direct economic injection of more than $800,000 to the island and Redlands Coast economy.

“Not only did this deliver economic and tourism activity, it’s yet another exciting opportunity for our wonderful vistas (pictured) to be showcased on screens around the world.”

Co-produced by Amazon Studios and ABC Signature Studios, part of Disney Television Studios, The Wilds Season 2 engaged Brisbane-based production company Hoodlum Entertainment as its service company in Australia.

Hoodlum Entertainment’s Chief Content Officer Tracey Vieira said the production company had previously had great experiences filming on Redlands Coast, and was pleased to return to film parts of The Wilds season 2.

“With its pristine beaches, breathtaking vistas and lovely community, it’s always a pleasure for our cast and crew to film on Minjerribah,” Ms Vieira said.

“During our time on location on the island we were able to capture incredible imagery of stunning locations that we can all be proud of when The Wilds season 2 premieres worldwide on Amazon Prime.

“We love filming on Redlands Coast and hope to be back again soon to feature some of its other diverse locations.”

Division 2 Councillor Peter Mitchell said The Wilds season 2 filming on Minjerribah was great for the island economy, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Redlands Coast has a global reputation as a natural choice for film and television, and it’s easy to see why,” Cr Mitchell said.

“Our stunning locations and friendly communities are all within 35 minutes of Brisbane, half an hour from the Screen Queensland Studios at Hemmant and less than an hour from the Village Roadshow Studios at Helensvale.

“It’s been fantastic to see yet another major production being filmed on this beautiful island, and I thank our island community for hosting the production and sharing their backyard with the cast and crew.”

In January 2021, The Wilds season 1 was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Drama Series.

The Wilds which received support from the Queensland Government through Screen Queensland.

Redland City Council is proud to be part of Screen Queensland’s Film-Friendly Pathways Program.

Redlands Coast locations have proven attractive to filmmakers since 2010, featuring in movies and TV shows such as The Chronicles of Narnia, Unbroken, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, Aquaman, Tidelands, Holey Moley, Safe Harbour, Harrow, Reef Break, Love and Monsters and Young Rock.

The Wilds is also supported under the Morrison Government’s $400 million boost to the Location Incentive to create a pipeline of international projects, which will generate tens of thousands of Australian jobs in the screen industry over coming years.