Things just keep getting bigger and brighter for the Australian film industry, as international productions rush to our shores lured by exceptional talent and attractive government incentives.
In addition to all of the exciting developments of late, including the announcement of a new film studio in Coffs Harbour thanks to Russell Crowe, Stan has revealed that two-time Oscar winner Christoph Waltz is currently in Queensland to shoot a film for the streaming service.
Waltz is joined by our very own Sam Neill, to bring The Portable Door to life as a Stan Original Film. The story is a magical adventure fantasy that has been adapted from Tom Holt’s eponymous seven-book series.
In The Portable Door, Paul Carpenter (Patrick Gibson) and Sophie Pettingel (Sophie Wilde) are the lowly, put-upon interns who begin working at the mysterious London firm J.W. Wells & Co. and become steadily aware that their employers are anything but conventional. Charismatic villains Humphrey Wells (Christoph Waltz), the CEO of the company, and middle manager Dennis Tanner (Sam Neill) are disrupting the world of magic by bringing modern corporate strategy to ancient magical practices, and Paul and Sophie discover the true agenda of the vast corporation where they work.
The all-star Australian cast also includes Miranda Otto (The Unusual Suspects, The Lord of the Rings franchise), Chris Pang (Crazy Rich Asians), Jessica DeGouw (Gretel & Hansel, Pennyworth), New Zealand’s Rachel House (Soul, Thor: Ragnarok), Arka Das (Mulan, Lion), Damon Herriman (Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, Stan Original Series The Commons) and Sophie Wilde (Stan Original Series Eden, You Don’t Know Me).
Award-winning Australian filmmaker Jeffrey Walker is directing the film with the screenplay adapted by Australian writer Leon Ford and the Jim Henson Company and Story Bridge Films overseeing production.
Executive producer Lisa Henson shared her excitement in a statement saying, “Director Jeffrey Walker is leading an amazing cast and creative team to bring to life the high-fantasy setting and unique humour of The Portable Door. An unexpected adventure filled with deeply funny moments; The Portable Door is poised to be the next Henson fan favourite.”
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