Tobey Maguire’s 'Z for Zachariah' to be shot in New Zealand

Film New Zealand is delighted to announce Z for Zachariah, a film being produced by Hollywood star Tobey Maguire, and his production company Material Pictures along with Palomar Pictures and Zik Zak Filmworks, is being filmed in New Zealand.

The film is set to shoot in New Zealand early in the New Year. 

Film New Zealand and line producer Murray Francis worked extensively with the producers and showcased the country as the location for the post-apocalyptic feature, on a recce in November.

The star-studded cast will include Chris Pine (Captain Kirk – Star Trek into Darkness), Amanda Seyfried (Mamma Mia!), and 2014 Golden Globe nominee Chiwelel Ejiofor (Twelve Years a Slave). It will be directed by Craig Zobel (Compliance, Great World of Sound).

The film is based on the 1974 Science Fiction children’s novel by Robert O’Brien, a thriller set in a remote valley which survives a nuclear holocaust.

Film New Zealand Chief Executive Gisella Carr says the decision to shoot in New Zealand is testament to New Zealand’s offering and reputation for delivering quality.

“We are thrilled such a prestigious project is coming to New Zealand. To see a seminal piece of children’s literature brought to the screen here with a celebrated cast and production team is tremendous.

“This announcement represents a classic team effort by the New Zealanders involved, line producer Murray Francis, Film New Zealand’s specialist enquiries team, and the local authorities through their regional film offices Film Auckland and Film Otago/Southland are all to be commended.”

Director Craig Zobel says on touring New Zealand he was immediately impressed by the possibilities.

“New Zealand offers a great variety of options for this type of film, in particular we needed to match some of the more beautiful parts of the US. New Zealand is epic and picturesque, with the lush and vibrant nature this story requires. There are so many different looks close together that you can only get in a place like this.”

The film is set to commence filming in Canterbury in late January with locations on Banks Peninsula and in mid-Canterbury.