SQ News

Good Cop/Bad Cop is good news for Queensland screen sector jobs


Image: Good Cop/Bad Cop cast members Luke Cook, Leighton Meester and Clancy Brown

Screen Queensland announced today that cameras will roll from late March in South East Queensland on the new Stan Original series Good Cop/Bad Cop, produced by Jungle Entertainment and Future Shack Entertainment.

The eight-part procedural comedic drama series stars Leighton Meester (Gossip Girl), Luke Cook (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) and Clancy Brown (Dexter: New Blood, Billions) with Queensland doubling for the US state of Washington, and follows a sister and brother detective team in a small Pacific Northwest police force who must contend with colourful residents, a serious lack of resources, and their very complicated dynamic with each other and their police chief—who happens to be their father.

Arts Minister Leeanne Enoch said the Miles Government’s Production Attraction Strategy through Screen Queensland was backing international productions like Good Cop/Bad Cop.

“Attracted by our state-of-the-art facilities at Village Roadshow Studios on the Gold Coast, this production means more than $14 million for the Queensland economy and nearly 200 jobs for cast, crew and creatives,” Ms Enoch said.

Jacqui Feeney, Screen Queensland CEO said that the agency is proud to welcome Jungle Entertainment and Future Shack Entertainment to Queensland.

“We are delighted that Good Cop/Bad Cop will be made here in the sunshine state with our world-renowned crews, creatives and studios, as well as utilising stunning locations around South East Queensland and post-production services from Cutting Edge.

“Queensland’s reputation as a destination of choice for local, national and international production is ever expanding and our homegrown talent is second to none. This international production features many Queensland practitioners in key creative roles across directing, writing, cinematography, production design, editing and more, and will create vital career pathways for emerging crew through our Attachment program.

Good Cop/Bad Cop follows high profile series like Apples Never Fall, Boy Swallows Universe and feature films including Mortal Kombat 2 and Eden. With Screen Queensland Studios, Cairns soon to open in Far North Queensland, our state is primed to capitalise on increased demand for local screen production.”

John Quaintance, Showrunner and Executive Producer said “I chose to shoot in Queensland because I saw firsthand what I’d already heard from friends who had based productions there—the facilities are first class, the talent pool in front of and behind the camera is deep, and everyone I met was welcoming and excited to help us make our show.” 

Chloe Rickard, Executive Producer from Jungle Entertainment said that “Queensland’s Scenic Rim is the perfect idyllic small town look for our story—and somewhere we hope to return to for many seasons. These lush natural environments have drawn us to the state. 

“Further, Screen Queensland’s global focus and exceptional Production Attraction team have worked hard to secure our production and we are thrilled with the level of government support. We’re delighted to have found studio partners in Gold Coast-based Village Roadshow Studios and a rich pool of highly talented Queensland cast and crew.” 

Stan Chief Content Officer Cailah Scobie said: “Stan continues to be the Australian partner of choice for the international market and we are delighted to collaborate with global content leaders The CW and Roku to deliver more world-class original content for our audience. Good Cop/Bad Cop is a highly anticipated addition to our Originals slate, and we look forward to working with Jeff Wachtel’s Future Shack, with the team at Jungle and with Leighton Meester and Clancy Brown in the sunny state of Queensland.”

Good Cop/Bad Cop is written by John Quaintance (Reboot, Will & Grace, Workaholics) Phil Lloyd, Steve Joe, Julie de Fina, Steve Toltz, Sarinah Masukor and Queensland writer Clare Sladden (NCIS: Sydney) and directed by Trent O’Donnell (In Limbo, Colin From Accounts, Ghosts and New Girl), Queensland director Natalie Bailey (Audrey), Gracie Otto (Seriously Red, Bump) and Corrie Chen (The Artful Dodger, Bad Behaviour, Wentworth) alongside Queensland Production Designer Matt Puttland (The Portable Door) and Queensland Director of Photography Murray Lui (Black Snow, Irreverent). Executive produced by Cailah Scobie and Amanda Duthie from Stan.

The series will stream on Stan in Australia and The CW Network and Roku in the US. In association with and distributed by ITV Studios. 

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Media contact
Amanda Lawson, Head of Marketing and Communications
07 3248 0500
media@screenqld.com.au