There has been more trouble getting The Voyage of the Dawn Treader going into production with rising violence in Mexico as of late. Scheduled to begin filming production at Baja Studios next month, presumably set building and pre-production, the drug war violence may have led Disney and Walden Media to begin a search for another location. Baja Studio is the home of the water tank that was used for Titanic and Master And Commander.
Word has it that the production may move down under, as film industry officials in NSW and Queensland are chasing the movie. The Sunshine State is favoured to win because of the water tank at Warner Roadshow Studios on the Gold Coast. The Dawn Treader needs studios, beaches, jungles and other locations for a five-month shoot.
In the C.S. Lewis fantasy novel, Edmund, Lucy and their cousin Eustace return to the magical land of Narnia through a painting then set sail with King Caspian to find seven lost lords.
Briton Michael Apted, who made Amazing Grace, The World Is Not Enough and the Seven Up documentary series, is directing with returning roles for young Skandar Keynes and Georgie Henley. Also back will be Ben Barnes, who was Prince Caspian in the last instalment.
The producers are known to have investigated Australia as a location before they settled on Mexico.