Hollywood comes to Cairns with Baz Luhrmann visit


Tropic Now exclusive


Legendary filmmaker Baz Luhrmann has been spotted in Cairns during a forced break in shooting of his new Hollywood flick based on the life of Elvis Presley.

Luhrmann, the famed director behind Strictly Ballroom, Moulin Rouge and Romeo + Juliet, was spotted shopping in Oceana Walk Arcade with daugther Lillian on Wednesday.

They posed for photos at The Other Shop after buying some locally made jewellery.

Luhrmann and his family have been staying on the Gold Coast for the past few months after filming of his Elvis biopic was put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic - including one of the film's stars Tom Hanks contracting the disease in March. 

Hanks is starring as Elvis’s manager Colonel Tom Parker alongside Once Upon A Time in Hollywood’s Austin Butler as Elvis. The movie will focus on the rise of Elvis’s career and his relationship with Parker during the birth of rock and roll in the 1950s.

Delighted by the star visit, The Other Shop posted on social media: "Baz & Lilly... super cool Dad and Daughter matching Artiz pearl & ruby necklaces... handmade in Cairns. Thanks guys, was super fun styling with you. Cairns is looking brighter."

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk recently announced she had met with Luhrmann in a bid to resume filming at Village Roadshow Studios on the Gold Coast.

“We want to ensure that this can happen as soon as possible while making sure that the cast and crew can operate safely,” Ms Palaszcuk said.