Alan Ritchson returns to Queensland, Australia to begin production on an untitled film. Amazon MGM Studios report on decorated Navy SEAL hero Mike Thornton, Screen Queensland opened up.
Principal photography begins this month at Village Roadshow Studios on the Gold Coast. The project marks Ritchson's return to the region following his recent action film The Runner, which filmed in Brisbane and the Gold Coast in 2025.
Australian director Patrick Hughes is helming the project, which tells the true story of Thornton's survival in the South China Sea, for which he received the Congressional Medal of Honor. Ritchson, known for his roles in Reacher and Furious X, stars alongside Joe Cole (Subversion, A Prayer Before Dawn) and Hoa Xuande (The Sympathizer, Avatar: The Last Airbender).
Sylvester Stallone and D. Matt Geller are producing the film under Balboa Productions along with Hidden Pictures' Todd Lieberman and Alex Young, Ritchson's AllyCat Entertainment and Alan Routhbort. Executive producers are Valerie Blet Sharp and Mike Thornton. The script was written by Mark Semos (SEAL Team, Y: Marshals), Ritchson and Jason Hall (American Sniper, Thank You for Your Service).
The film is supported by the Australian Government through Location Offset, the Queensland Government through the Screen Queensland Production Attraction Strategy and the City of Gold Coast Screen Attraction Program.
Production in Queensland was secured through Screen Queensland's production strategy and the federal government's shift in location.
Acting Arts Minister Tim Nicholls said the project shows strong momentum for screen manufacturing in the state ahead of 2026 under the Crisafulli Government.
“This latest project for Amazon MGM Studios will create jobs for approximately 260 local cast and crew, as well as inject approximately A$50 million ($33.5 million) into the Queensland economy and support numerous small businesses,” Nicholls said in a statement, adding that the government remains committed to maintaining Queensland as the country's premier destination for film production.
Screen Queensland CEO Jacqui Feeney stressed the state's experience in producing war and water films was a key factor in bringing production back to Queensland.
“The Queensland production has a world-renowned reputation for creating challenging action films and series, and it’s great to start the new year with such an ambitious production coming to Village Roadshow Studios,” Feeney said.
Hughes said he was thrilled to be bringing the project back to Australia. “The Gold Coast offers world-class crew, equipment and locations, making it the ideal home for a production of this scale,” said the Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard director. “I’m thrilled to be working with Screen Queensland to bring this film to life.”
Mike Thornton's project joins a growing list of films shot in Queensland for Amazon MGM Studios, including Balls Up, The Bluff, Voltron and Subversion.
