To facilitate the filming of Hollywood star Liam Neeson's new movie, a section of a regional highway in Victoria will be temporarily closed next week. This film, titled "Mongoose," marks Neeson's third project filmed in Victoria in the past four years, demonstrating the state's appeal to major productions.
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02-12, 2025The 72-year-old veteran actor, renowned for films like "Schindler's List" and "Taken," posed for the media at Bacchus Marsh Airfield on Wednesday. Neeson expressed that the set, transformed into a southwestern American style landscape, was particularly attractive to him, adding to his excitement for the project.
Neeson praised the professionalism of the Victorian film production team, stating, "It might sound like a cliché, but the people and the crew here are absolutely the best," highlighting the talent and dedication he has experienced in the region.
Producers Al Corley and Bart Rosenblatt revealed that the crew plans to close a section of the Calder Highway near Castlemaine next week to film a high-speed car chase scene starring Neeson. "The whole movie is a chase from beginning to end," said Mr. Corley, underscoring the film's action-packed nature. He added, "To do the chase, we have to be on a freeway, so we're closing a section of the freeway for a day. We only need a kilometer and a half, so it's only a specific area, trying not to inconvenience anybody," explaining the efforts to minimize disruption.
The Victorian government stated that the film is expected to inject over AUD 19 million into the state's economy, with approximately AUD 2 million benefiting regional communities. Neeson's previous projects filmed in Victoria include "Ice Road 2: Road to the Sky" and "Blacklight," further solidifying the state's position as a filming hub.
Code Entertainment stated that the film production crew in Victoria is top-notch. Mr. Corley said, "It's a long, hard shoot. There are flies here, and it's 36 degrees today, and it's been 25 degrees other days. The Australian crews are not only technically great, but they're every bit as good as the Hollywood crews. They also have a can-do spirit, which is so important when you're making a movie," emphasizing the crew's skills and positive attitude.
However, the Victorian weather has also presented challenges thus far. Mr. Rosenblatt said, "Today we've got four helicopters up in the air... when we got here this morning, it was all fog, and we couldn't fly until 10 o'clock. Last week, we built a set in a quarry, and without any warning, we had a flash flood and storm the night before, 50-kilometer-an-hour winds, and the whole set blew away. So we're constantly adapting... if you don't like the weather in Victoria, wait five minutes," illustrating the unpredictable conditions and the crew's adaptability.
The crew will continue filming until next February, and the film is scheduled for release on Amazon in late 2026, promising an exciting viewing experience for audiences worldwide.
