Murder mystery series puts Coast on world stage

The picturesque Glass House Mountains are set to captivate audiences around the globe as the dramatic backdrop for a thrilling murder mystery intertwined with the breathtaking beauty of the Sunshine Coast.

The second smash-hit Stan original series of the acclaimed detective drama, Black Snow, is premiering this New Year's Day and promises to deliver a gripping tale and visual feast that highlights our region’s iconic hinterland.

Travis Fimmel, known for his roles in Boy Swallows Universe and Vikings, stars as Detective James Cormack in this new six-part series, which delves into the mysterious disappearance of a young woman from her 21st birthday party in 2003.

As Cormack investigates, he also searches for his younger brother, who vanished when they were children.

The first series, set in North Queensland, received a Logie nomination for most outstanding drama series and earned Fimmel two AACTA Award nominations.

In this series, Fimmel stars alongside cast members Jana McKinnon (Bad Behaviour), Kat Stewart (Offspring), Megan Smart (Class of ‘07), Alana Mansour (Erotic Stories), Dan Spielman (Bad Behaviour, The Newsreader) and Victoria Haralabidou (The Tourist).

Producer Rosemary Blights said filming in the Glass House Mountains was an incredible experience.

“Once we discovered the Glass House Mountains we knew we had discovered the heart of the story of Black Snow 2,” Ms Blight said. 

“The mountains’ commanding presence provided a powerful and cinematic backdrop for season two’s compelling story and it was an incredible experience to film there.”

Behind the scenes boost

The Australian screen industry contributes billions of dollars to the economy each year and is the largest creative contributor to the country.

In 2021-22, the screen industry employed around 55,000 people and contributed more than $6 billion into the Australian economy*.

More than 90 cast and crew members were involved in Black Snow 2, utilising 11 accommodation properties across the Glass House Mountains, Maleny and Caloundra.

Key scenes were shot at various locations including a private property on Mt Beerwah Road, Johnston Road, Roys Road, Marshs Road, Coonowrin Road, Wild Horse Mountain Scenic Lookout and Glass House Mountains Cultural Heritage Centre.

Film-friendly Council

Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli emphasised the importance of the screen industry for the region's economic and cultural development.

"The continued growth of a vibrant screen industry brings significant benefits to tourism, arts and culture,” Mayor Natoli said.

“Our diverse film locations and local talent make the Sunshine Coast an ideal location for screen production and we are proud to be a film-friendly Council, working closely with Screen Queensland to facilitate filming in our region."

Filmmaker’s destination

Sunshine Coast Screen Collective president David Edgar emphasised the region's unique appeal.

“The Sunshine Coast has all the ingredients to capture a larger share of Queensland’s screen industry market,” Mr Edgar said.

"This includes hundreds of skilled screen professionals, a diverse range of film locations and emerging infrastructure including Australia’s fastest East Coast data and telecommunications link to Asia and the second fastest to the United States.

“As the peak industry body, the Screen Collective is dedicated to fostering the growth of the local screen industry and equipping local talent with the tools to excel.”

Visit Sunshine Coast CEO Matt Stoeckel said the region was an ideal location for film production.

“Black Snow 2 showcases that the Sunshine Coast’s natural beauty goes beyond our pristine beaches and highlights to a global audience our region’s promising potential as an ideal screen destination," Mr Stoeckel said.

Black Snow 2 will premiere on Stan on January 1, 2025.

* The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) eighth Film, Television and Digital Games Survey 2021/22