LEIGH WHANNELL SET TO RETURN TO MELBOURNE WITH SCI-FI FEATURE STEM

Logan Marshall-Green

Victoria continues its run in attracting ambitious productions with Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley today announcing Melbourne as the filming location for new sci-fi thriller Stem.

In association with Goalpost Pictures Australia and Blumhouse Productions, writer and director Leigh Whannell (co-creator of the Insidious and the Saw franchises) will direct the Australian sci-fi thriller Stem from a script he wrote.

Whannell will return to his hometown of Melbourne to make the film which is starring Logan Marshall-Green (Prometheus, Spider-Man: Homecoming).

The Victorian Government secured Stem to Victoria through Film Victoria’s attractive production incentive fund.

Creating more than 200 local jobs, the production is set to inject millions of dollars into the state’s economy. It will use the world-class production facilities at Docklands Studios Melbourne, along with surrounding locations.

Minister for Creative Industries, Martin Foley, said: “Creativity forms a huge part of what makes Victoria such an attractive global city. We’re proud to see our talent recognised internationally, and welcome Leigh's return to Melbourne alongside the local and international production partners.”

“In securing this project Victoria has reaffirmed its reputation as a great place to produce feature films, generating employment opportunities and boosting economic activity for our screen industry.”

Film Victoria CEO, Jenni Tosi said: “We are delighted Leigh has been able to bring Stem to Melbourne. It demonstrates the confidence Goalpost Pictures and Blumhouse Productions have in Victoria's creative talent, crews, world class studios and great locations. They are set for a great experience and we wish them every success.”

Stem is produced by Goalpost Pictures and Blumhouse Productions and will be distributed in Australia and New Zealand by Madman Entertainment. Jason Blum, Kylie du Fresne and Brian Kavanaugh-Jones are producing.

Stem re-unites Whannell and Blumhouse Productions. They previously collaborated on the Insidious franchise. Whannell co-created, starred in and wrote and directed Chapter 3 which was the highest grossing horror film of 2015. Chapter 4 is being released in late 2017.

Leigh Whannell said: "It is not only hugely exciting for me to be making Stem but to be doing it in Australia makes it extra special, utilizing the incredibly talented artists we have here to realize the film with me. And to be shooting this science fiction film on the streets of my beloved hometown of Melbourne is a dream come true for me."

Stem Synopsis:

In a near-future when technology controls nearly everything, a technophobe avenges his wife's murder and his own paralysis-causing injury with the help of an experimental computer chip implant called Stem.