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Joe Exotic series heading to Queensland

Matchbox Pictures to oversee 3 US productions in Queensland, for Universal group.

Production will take place in Queensland on three US television productions, including a Joe Exotic dramatisation of the Tiger King star.

Brisbane’s Screen Queensland Studios will be home to 18 months of production from Universal Studio Group, a division of NBCUniversal.

Matchbox Pictures will lead and oversee all three projects for Universal Studio Group, which comprises Universal Television, Universal Content Productions (UCP) and NBCUniversal International Studios:

From Nahnatchka Khan (Fresh Off the Boat) and Dwayne Johnson, NBC’s Young Rock is a comedy inspired by Johnson himself. The show will be produced by Universal Television, Seven Bucks Productions and Fierce Baby Productions.

Joe Exotic is a limited series from UCP based on the hit Wondery podcast depicting the true events of Carole Baskin (Saturday Night Live’s Kate McKinnon), a big cat enthusiast, who learns that fellow exotic animal lover Joe “Exotic” Schreibvogel is breeding and using his big cats for profit, and sets out to shut down his venture, inciting a quickly escalating rivalry. The eight-episode adaptation will launch on flagship network NBC, USA Network and streaming service Peacock.

Hailing from NBCUniversal International Studios’ Matchbox Pictures is new ten-part drama series Irreverent, which is being developed and produced for the global market. It follows a criminal on the run from his life of crime back in New York, who is forced to hide out in a reef town in Far North Queensland, posing as the new church Reverend.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said, “These productions are expected to contribute around $143 million to the Queensland economy.

“More than 3,500 local cast, crew and extras will also be employed to work across the three shows and many more jobs supported in numerous industries like hospitality, tourism, transport and logistics.

“Due to the measures we have in place and the amazing efforts of Queenslanders in dealing with this pandemic, Queensland is one of the safest places to film not just in Australia, but in the world.

“Queensland locations, together with talented crew and first-rate facilities like Brisbane’s Screen Queensland Studios, are able to deliver what these big budget productions need.

“We’re able to support the industry and get people back into work in a COVID safe environment.”

Screen Queensland CEO Kylie Munnich said, “This is a massive boost for the Queensland screen industry and a vote of confidence in how safe Queensland is as a major destination for film and TV production.

“We can’t wait to welcome the Universal Studio Group and Matchbox teams to Screen Queensland Studios and watch as these series take shape, and also see our facilities and locations showcased around the world.”

Screen Queensland was able to help attract these productions to Queensland through the Queensland Government’s Production Attraction Strategy.

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