New Zealand is home of Disney’s ‘Pete’s Dragon’

Coming soon – New Zealand’s newest movie star role will be revealed when Disney’s Pete’s Dragon has its US première on 8 August, 2016.

New Zealand is set to star in a new movie fantasy, this time as the home of Disney’s Pete’s Dragon - scheduled for worldwide release in August 2016.

A reimagining of Disney’s cherished family classic Pete’s Dragon is the adventure of an orphaned boy named Pete and his best friend - a lovable dragon named Elliot.

The film is directed by David Lowery and stars Bryce Dallas Howard, Oakes Fegley, Wes Bentley, New Zealand’s own Karl Urban, Oona Laurence and Robert Redford.

In Pete’s Dragon, New Zealand plays Millhaven, an American Pacific Northwest logging town.

Two trailers released to date show four New Zealand locations - New Zealand’s thriving film hub of Wellington, cultural and cycling Mecca Rotorua, adventure capital Queenstown, and fisherman’s paradise Tapanui - featuring in the film.

New Zealand locations

Disney’s classic family film Pete’s Dragon has been brought back to life using spectacular New Zealand locations as the backdrop.

The film was shot over both New Zealand’s main islands, the North and the South, showcasing diverse landscapes.

Four regions are showcased:

• Rotorua, central North Island
• Wellington, lower North Island
• Queenstown, southern South Island
• Tapanui, lower South Island

For more information on how to visit the locations used in Disney’s Pete’s Dragon, click here.