Filming is underway for Brad Pitt’s (inset) new movie Heart of the Beast being filmed around Queenstown. Photo / George Heard
Filming is underway for Brad Pitt’s (inset) new movie Heart of the Beast being filmed around Queenstown. Photo / George Heard
Brad Pitt’s latest film, Heart of the Beast, began shooting in Queenstown, doubling as Alaska.
The film follows an ex-Navy Seal and his dog trying to return to civilisation after an accident.
Filming involves high security, with scenes at Lake Wakatipu and Mt Aspiring National Park.
A spectacular film shoot for Hollywood A-lister Brad Pitt’s latest blockbuster got under way in Queenstown today.
The legendary star of Fight Club, the Ocean’s series of comedy heist films, Legends of the Fall, Thelma and Louise, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and Inglourious Basterdsquietly slipped into the South Island’s adventure capital with his security and entourage around mid-February and has kept a typically-low profile around the town ever since.
The Herald understands a local helicopter company has been hired to ferry around the megastar – including to and from shoots - while blacked-out SUVs have also been used to get him about the picturesque and touristy town.
Queenstown is stepping in as the backdrop for Alaska in his latest film project, Heart of the Beast.
Filming for Brad Pitt's latest movie Heart of the Beast got under way in Queenstown today, with the South Island town acting as a backdrop for Alaska. Photo / George Heard
The movie will tell the story of an ex-Navy Seal and his retired combat dog attempting to return to civilisation after a catastrophic accident deep in the wilderness.
Pitt’s production company Plan B is producing the film for Paramount Pictures.
Today, scenes were being shot on Lake Wakatipu and around Mt Aspiring National Park, of a North American seaplane being followed by a filming chopper crew.
A seaplane was rigged up by film crew technicians before filming began. Photo / George Heard
The film production crew has a base camp set up nearby, busy with trucks, tents, and high security. A sign points towards the film set.
A public notice last month advised that a section of the western side of the lake, south of Kinloch, had been exclusively reserved for several days.
Queenstown is stepping in as the backdrop for Alaska in Brad Pitt's latest film project, Heart of the Beast. Photo / George Heard
On February 26, a letter to local residents and businesses from New Zealand film company DWTT Productions location managers advised of the “upcoming activities in your area”.
Filming started with a helicopter following the seaplane across Lake Wakatipu and the national park. Photo / George Heard
“From March 3 to April 10 2025, DWTT Productions Ltd will be preparing and filming scenes for an international feature film in the wider Glenorchy area,” it said.
“During this period, you may notice increased traffic movements and traffic management measures in place.”
Large numbers of production crew are in town. Photo / George Heard
It gave a calendar which outlined filming days and rough locations.
Other shoots are lined up for nearby Milford Sounds and the beauty spot of Paradise which was also used in the Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.
“We consider it a privilege to work in such areas and understand the significance of our presence around your home and/or business. We are committed to minimising any disruptions our activities may cause,” the letter said.
Brad Pitt has not been spotted around the filming. Photo / George Heard
Glenorchy has been full of production crew over the last few days, with staff believed to have signed strict non-disclosure agreements.
There were rumours that the 61-year-old had slipped into the New Zealand Open golf tournament at Millbrook Resort last weekend – and that he had filmed a TV commercial in the area for De’Longhi, for whom he is a global ambassador.
The local grapevine has also been abuzz with Pitt, one of the world’s most recognisable faces, being in town. Locals believe he might be privately renting out rooms at some of Central Otago’s fine dining establishments and staying at a remote, secret spot just out of town.
Sources also told tell the Herald’s Society Insider that Pitt has more security in tow than any film star has had previously while working in New Zealand.
Pitt reunites on the latest film with director David Ayer after they worked together on the 2014 Second World War action blockbuster Fury. The producers are the Oscar-winning filmmaker Damien Chazelle of Whiplash and La La Land and actress Olivia Hamilton.
Kurt Bayer is NZ Herald South Island Head of News based in Christchurch. He is a senior journalist who joined the Herald in 2011.
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