JOE vs CAROLE is set to hit Australian screens on Stan from Friday, March 4.
Fans of the Tiger King documentary and Wondery podcast will enjoy seeing Saturday Night Live’s Kate McKinnon transform into the eccentric big cat enthusiast Carole Baskin alongside theatre star John Cameron Mitchell as Baskin’s equally eccentric rival Joe Exotic.
The series follows the true events surrounding their rivalry as Carole sets out to shut down Joe Exotic’s zoo after learning he profits from breeding and using big cats.
The series was filmed around Queensland, at the Screen Queensland Studios: Brisbane and locations around South-East region of the state, which stood in place of Oklahoma and Florida.
Several notable landmarks include Old Government House, Queensland Parliament House, QUT Gardens Point, the RNA and Redcliffe Showgrounds, The Croatian Club Brisbane and Lutwyche’s St Andrew’s Anglican Church.
Filming injected an estimated $31.7 million into Queensland’s economy and employed approximately 300 Queensland cast and crew.
Screen Queensland CEO Kylie Munnich said there were several reasons why the production chose Queensland, including a range of diverse locations and a top facility in Screen Queensland Studios: Brisbane.
“While Oklahoma and Florida are some 2,000 kilometres apart, here in Queensland the Gold Coast’s Main Beach was a stand-in for Florida’s Tampa and Alexandra Hills for Oklahoma’s infamous GW Zoo, and both are a comparatively short 70 kilometres apart.
“With 16,000 square metres of total lettable space, including two sound stages, two warehouses, eight greenrooms, ample production offices and more, Screen Queensland Studios: Brisbane has everything a major production of this size needs,” she added.
Dan Kaplow, co-executive producer said: “We were afforded the best possible locations that we could have imagined as Queensland had both set of criteria – dry Oklahoma and humid Tampa – right here.
“Filming in Queensland has been an absolute pleasure. You get a first-rate crew, you get great actors, you get top-notch facilities. Everyone loves making movies and TV shows – there’s an enthusiasm here,” he added.
Natalie Bailey, series director who was also raised on the Sunshine Coast, said she is proud to be back in the state where she started her career.
“The crews are so lovely, hardworking and experienced – there’s a big industry that’s grown in the last 20 to 30 years.Creatively they’re going to give you everything and more,” she added.
The series also stars Kyle MacLachlan (Sex and The City, Desperate Housewives, Atlantic Crossing) as Howard Baskin, Brian Van Holt (Cougar Town) as John Reinke, Sam Keeley (The English Game) as John Finlay, Nat Wolff (Paper Towns) as Travis Maldonado, Marlo Kelly (Dare Me) as Jamie Murdock, William Fichtner (Mom) playing Rick Kirkham and Dean Winters (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) as Jeff Lowe, alongside Queensland up-and-comer Aliandra Calabrese (Darby and Joan, Perfect Messy Love) as Lauren Lowe.
Australia’s David Wenham (Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis) as Don Lewis leads the show’s Australian contingent with Will McNeill (Rams), Jack Scott (Hardball), Nic English (The Tailings), Benedict Hardie (The Invisible Man), Shereena Clanton (Wentworth), Alexandra Jensen (My Life is Murder), Anthony J. Sharpe (Miss Fisher & the Crypt of Tears) and Marlo Kelly (Dare Me).
Kate McKinnon is both stars and is executive producer of JOE vs CAROLE with Helen Panckhurst as head of production and writer Etan Frankel.
