Liam Neeson is returning to Melbourne once again to film his next action-thriller, The Mongoose. This will be the third movie he has made in Victoria in four years.
The Mongoose stars Neeson as Ryan "Fang" Flanagan, a war hero who, accused of a crime he didn't commit and with nothing to lose, leads police on an epic televised cross-country car chase. Helped by members of his former Special Forces Army battalion he is closely monitored by a fascinated public cheering for his safe getaway.
The project reunites Neeson with Code Entertainment, producers of both Ice Road and Ice Road 2: Road to Sky.
The Mongoose will be directed by veteran stunt professional Mark Vanselow, whose career as an action sequence director, includes two Screen Actors Guild award nominations for best stunt ensemble (Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull).
The script is written by Thompson Evans (Reckoning). Code Entertainment's Al Corley, Bart Rosenblatt, and Eugene Musso will produce. Jonathan Dana will executive produce with Code's Rich Freeman along with Steven Shapiro and Liz and Ken Whitney of Jupiter Peak Productions. Lisa Wilson and Craig Chapman of The Solution Entertainment Group will also executive produce.
The Mongoose will be filmed across Melbourne and regional Victoria and will base production out of the Melbourne Screen Hub in Footscray.
The production will create 453 jobs for Victorian screen workers, including 12 locals in Head of Department roles,16 cast and 222 casuals and extras. The film will inject more than $19 million into the Victorian economy, with an estimated 150 local businesses to be engaged.
More than 1,300 jobs were created when Neeson filmed Ice Road 2: Road to Sky (2023) and Blacklight (2020) in Victoria, generating more than $55 million in economic value for the state.
The Mongoose was attracted to Victoria through VicScreen's Victorian Screen Rebate; and also received support from the Federal Government's Location Offset.
Victorian Minister for Creative Industries, Minister Brooks said, "We've always known that Victoria is a sought-after screen destination. To see major producers and stars returning time and time again is testament to our spectacular locations, exceptional crews and world class facilities."
"The Mongoose is part of a strong pipeline of local and international productions that will power our screen industry in 2025, creating jobs, boosting local businesses and showcasing Victorian screen talent to the world."
VicScreen CEO Caroline Pitcher said, "We are delighted to welcome Liam Neeson, Al Corley and Bart Rosenblatt back to Victoria to make yet another action-packed film."
"Once international producers experience how much Victoria has to offer, they want to come back again and again. This film is part of Victoria's growing screen production pipeline, which reinforces our state's reputation as a screen powerhouse, generating jobs for Victorian screen workers and businesses."
Producers Al Corley and Bart Rosenblatt said, "We are so fortunate to be able to make another picture with the extraordinary Liam Neeson and the talented Mark Vanselow. Shooting in Victoria again is fantastic – Melbourne is a great city to shoot in - the local crews and the technical capabilities of the virtual stages are terrific."
