Kevin Costner and Jake Gyllenhaal are set to begin shooting “Honeymoon With Harry” in Queensland, Australia, with production scheduled to kick off in April in Brisbane and The Whitsundays.
The Amazon MGM Studios feature, adapted from a novel by Bart Baker, is directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa and scripted by Dan Fogelman, the trio previously united on “Paradise,” “Crazy, Stupid, Love” and “This Is Us.” Sarah Pidgeon is in talks to join the cast.
The emotional dramedy centers on a free-spirited, impulsive man (Gyllenhaal) whose honeymoon plans are thrown into disarray, leaving him stuck navigating an island getaway alongside his fiancée’s guarded, difficult father (Costner). What begins as a collision of personalities gradually gives way to an unlikely connection between the two.
“Queensland has everything we could hope for,” directors Ficarra and Requa said in a statement. “We’re doing Chicago, the Caribbean and everything in between – all within a day’s reach. The crew are great and the weather’s even better.”
Producer Mike Karz, whose previous credits include “Valentine’s Day,” “Blended” and “Upgraded,” called Queensland’s locations and natural beauty an ideal fit for the film. “We’re having a great time collaborating with talented local creatives and crew to bring this story to life,” he said.
Screen Queensland CEO Jacqui Feeney described the production as the latest chapter in a growing partnership with the studio. “We are delighted to be a trusted partner for Amazon MGM, with our local screen industry providing the high-quality expertise that they can rely on, while our competitive incentives enable them to capitalise on our captivating locations and first-class infrastructure,” she said.
The production is estimated to contribute AUD$51 million ($35.6 million) to the Queensland economy and generate 215 jobs. Queensland Arts Minister John-Paul Langbroek highlighted benefits extending beyond the screen sector, noting the downstream impact on construction, catering, transport and accommodation businesses.
“Honeymoon With Harry” is produced by Karz for Gulfstream Pictures alongside Jennifer Salke under Sullivan Street Productions, with Fogelman also serving as a producer. The film is supported by the Australian Government through the Location Offset and by the Queensland Government through Screen Queensland’s Production Attraction Strategy.
The production joins a string of Amazon MGM titles made in Queensland, including “Balls Up,” “The Bluff,” “Subversion,” “Voltron” and an untitled Mike Thornton project.
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