Rock Island Mysteries returns to the Gold Coast for Season 3
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| Image: Cast of Rock Island Mysteries Season 3, by David Fell. |
MAY 6, 2024
Filming for the highly anticipated third season of the popular Nickelodeon International and Network 10 children’s series, Rock Island Mysteries is underway on Queensland’s Gold Coast.
Produced by Fremantle Australia with the support of Screen Queensland’s Screen Finance Fund, Rock Island Mysteries Season 3 will continue until late June, using the Gold Coast’s Pinnacle Films Studios and The Post Lounge in Brisbane, and talented local crew and scenic locations.
The series, which follows the adventures of the heroic Taylor and her friends as they work to solve the mysteries of their beloved Rock Island, continues to elevate Queensland’s profile as a leading hub for entertainment production.
Previous seasons also filmed in Queensland showcased the Gold Coast’s stunning coastline, lush hinterland and iconic destinations such as HOTA and Sea World.
Rock Island Mysteries season three (20 x 30 min) will continue to follow the adventures of Taylor and her friends as they explore the secrets of the beautiful and mysterious Rock Island. Season three sees our five intrepid teenagers back to their mystery-solving ways after an epic battle defeating an otherworldly presence. These close-knit friends are primed to solve the one mystery that has eluded – how to bring Taylor’s missing Uncle Charlie home. However, they’re about to face their biggest mystery ever – saving Taylor from a powerful new danger.
Rock Island Mysteries features a diverse main cast anchored by Australian leads, including Alexa Curtis as Taylor Young, Noah Akhigbe as Nori Harlow, Inessa Tan as Meesha Rai, Ryan Yeates as Ellis Grouch and Izellah Connelly as Lila Gray. Joining the young cast are adults Kimberley Joseph, Craig Horner, Monette Lee, Annabelle Stephenson, and Lucas Linehan.
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| Image: Cast of Rock Island Mysteries Season 3, by David Fell. |
Arts Minister Leeanne Enoch said the series’ third season is being filmed entirely on the Gold Coast.
“Attracted by our state-of the-art facilities and the Gold Coast’s screen-worthy natural assets, this production will support more than 200 jobs for local cast, crew and creatives and deliver $10 million for the Queensland economy,” Ms Enoch said.
“This production is also a wonderful investment in Queensland’s up-and-coming screen professionals with several hands-on training opportunities for local creatives.”
Screen Queensland Chief Creative Officer, Dr Belinda Burns highlighted that Nickelodeon’s extensive platform enables the broadcast of Rock Island Mysteries to a global audience, offering entertainment and educational value to younger viewers around the world, plus showcasing Queensland locations on screen.
“Its return underscores the importance of investing in diverse and engaging programming for children, fostering their imagination and curiosity.
“It’s particularly important for our younger Australian audiences to be able to access compelling content set in Australia and with a diverse Australian cast.”
In an industry-leading move, Rock Island Mysteries Season 3 integrates environmental sustainability into its production process. A dedicated Environmental Sustainability Attachment, co-funded by Fremantle and Screen Queensland, will train a practitioner as an Environmental Officer, emphasising Screen Queensland’s commitment to sustainability and building upon the internship initiative introduced in Season 2.
The collaboration with screen industry giant Fremantle Australia forms part of a strategic effort to minimise the ecological footprint of screen production in the state. This investment will help ensure sustainable practices are implemented across departments to reduce the production’s carbon footprint and eliminate waste.
Executive Producer and Head of Drama for Fremantle Australia, Brett Popplewell said, “It’s fantastic to return to Queensland for another season of Rock Island Mysteries. We have once again assembled a talented and passionate cast and crew who will bring to life a new season of stories utilising the best that the Gold Coast has to offer.”
“We’re proud of the contribution the series makes to Queensland as a hub for world-class entertainment production, and of the loyal audiences, both young and young at heart, reached through our continued partnership with Paramount Australia and New Zealand and Nickelodeon International.”
“Rock Island Mysteries shines brightly for us at Nickelodeon. The series’ third season reflects our dedication to investing in stories from every corner of the world, and we are thrilled to be back on the Gold Coast as we continue our successful collaboration with Network 10, Fremantle Australia and Screen Queensland,” says Jules Borkent, Managing Director and Executive Vice President, International Kids & Family, Paramount Global.
Screen Queensland’s Attachment program has supported two additional attachment positions in the writing and script supervision team, contributing to the skills development of our future screen industry workers.
The Attachment program facilitates paid, project-based attachments that provide essential on-the-job experience on Screen Queensland-supported films, series and games.
Rock Island Mysteries is a Fremantle Australia production for Paramount Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) and Nickelodeon International, with major production investment from Screen Australia and support from the Queensland Government through Screen Queensland’s Screen Finance program and produced in association with Network 10 and Nickelodeon.
Rock Island Mysteries Season 2 premiered in 2023 on Network 10 and across Nickelodeon International channels around the world and is currently available to stream on 10 Play and Paramount+ in the UK and Australia. Season 1 is also streaming on 10 Play and Paramount+ Australia, UK, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Brazil and Latin America. Season 3 is set for release on Network 10 and Paramount+ Australia in 2024.
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About Rock Island Mysteries Season 3
Rock Island Mysteries is a 20 x 30 min children’s comedy-adventure series that follows the adventures of Taylor and her friends as they explore the secrets of the beautiful and mysterious Rock Island. Season 3 sees our five intrepid teenagers back to their mystery-solving ways after an epic battle defeating an otherworldly presence. These close-knit friends are primed to solve the one mystery that has eluded – how to bring Taylor’s missing Uncle Charlie home. However, they’re about to face their biggest mystery ever – saving Taylor from a powerful new danger.
About the Sustainability Internship program
Announced March 2023, Screen Queensland in partnership with Fremantle Australia offered a pioneering sustainability internship, an initiative which aligns with the Queensland Government’s commitment to reducing emissions by 30 per cent before 2030, and the Australian Federal Government’s commitment to a 43 per cent national reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and net zero by 2050.
Under Fremantle’s global commitment to sustainability, the production will also be Albert certified and implement best practice guidance to set the standard for sustainable Australian screen production.
About the Attachment program
Queensland is proudly home to skilled screen creatives and crew. In order to sustain and build the talent base of our local screen industry, Screen Queensland supports emerging screen practitioners to develop their practical skills, careers and professional networks, via the Screen Queensland Attachment program.
The Screen Queensland Attachment program facilitates paid, project-based attachments that provide essential on-the-job experience on Screen Queensland-supported films, series and games.
ABOUT SCREEN QUEENSLAND
Screen Queensland is the state government-owned agency investing in locally made films, series and digital games, and attracting international and interstate production and post-production. The agency runs career-building initiatives for practitioners around the state and supports film festivals and industry events and conferences such as Screen Forever, Asia Pacific Screen Awards and the AACTA Awards and Festival. Screen Queensland is deeply committed to uplifting the voices of Aboriginal Peoples and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and increasing diversity on and off screen.
Recently supported productions include Eden, Mortal Kombat 2, Good Cop/Bad Cop, Apples Never Fall, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, Bluey, Elvis, Thirteen Lives, Ticket to Paradise, The Portable Door, Nautilus, Land of Bad, Boy Swallows Universe, Black Snow, How to Make Gravy, Audrey, In Limbo, Scarygirl, Rebel with a Cause, Strait to the Plate, Rock Island Mysteries, True Spirit, In Our Blood, Limbo, Love is in the Air and digital games Unpacking, My Little Pony: Mane Merge, Servonauts, Mowing Mazes and Cities: Skylines – Remastered. Screen Queensland also operates Screen Queensland Studios, Brisbane, and Screen Queensland Studios, Cairns.
For more information about funding programs, incentives, locations and facilities, visit screenqueensland.com.au.
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Originally published: May 07, 2024.
