Created by James Dormer, AMC’s NAUTILUS is a period adventure drama that reimagines Jules Verne’s classic tale Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. This 10-part British series centers around Captain Nemo, played by Shazad Latif (Star Trek: Discovery), who escapes captivity with his diverse crew aboard the cutting-edge submarine Nautilus. They set out on a dangerous journey together—but the British East India Mercantile Company is after them. At first, they planned to use the ship as a colonial weapon. The show creates a big, interesting world based on the Victorian era, imperialism—and rebellion. It does this by using very detailed sets and interesting real-life filming locations.
IS NAUTILUS BASED ON A TRUE STORY?
This story is not based on real events. The story is made up, but it is based on Jules Verne’s novel Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (1870) and its follow-up, The Mysterious Island (1875). In the first book, Verne described Captain Nemo as a mysterious genius who hated imperialism. In the second book, Nemo was revealed to be an Indian prince who lost his family in a revolt against British rule.
James Dormer and his team of writers filled in this story gap by reimagining Captain Nemo as a prisoner who goes rogue and whose story represents resistance against colonial oppression. Even though the story is made up, the authors worked hard to make it feel real by based it on real events and people.
WHEN AND WHERE WAS NAUTILUS FILMED?
Production for Nautilus began in February 2022 and wrapped up in January 2023. The series was primarily filmed in Queensland, Australia. Approximately 70% of the show was shot at Village Roadshow Studios in Oxenford, while the remaining footage was captured at several scenic locations across Queensland, including Brisbane, Ipswich, Tamborine Mountain, Tallebudgera, and Steiglitz.
Thanks to the Australian Government’s Location Incentive and Screen Queensland’s Production Attraction Strategy, the show secured vital funding and support. Additional aid came from the City of Gold Coast’s Film Attraction Fund.
VILLAGE ROADSHOW STUDIOS – THE HEART OF PRODUCTION
Located in Oxenford, Gold Coast, Village Roadshow Studios served as the main filming base. This state-of-the-art facility includes nine sound stages and some of the largest water tanks in the Southern Hemisphere. One of the most iconic sequences featuring the Nautilus on the high seas was filmed in the studio’s vast water tank, using blue screens and practical effects.
According to producer Xavier Marchand, the studio has a lot to offer, from building sets and doing stunts to advanced visual effects. There were 197 main unit days, 71 second unit days—and 6 VFX-only days for the shoot. More than 2,000 Australians worked on the production—and more than 1,300 service providers, including 1,000 from Queensland, donated their time and skills.
Inside the studio, intricate sets were built to simulate the submarine’s interiors, British colonial offices, underwater caverns, and rebel hideouts.
TAMBORINE MOUNTAIN – A RAINFOREST ADVENTURE
Tamborine Mountain is situated in the Gold Coast Hinterland, in South East Queensland, Australia. It lies about 80 kilometers south of Brisbane and 40 kilometers inland from the Gold Coast beaches.
Actor Shazad Latif revealed in an interview that Tamborine Mountain was one of his favorite locations to film. Located in the Gold Coast Hinterland, this rainforest plateau offered dense tropical foliage, waterfalls, and cave systems perfect for portraying the unexplored terrain through which Nemo and his crew navigate. This location is roughly 560 meters above sea level and lent a sense of wonder and authenticity to the show’s more naturalistic scenes.
Visitors can explore:
Tamborine National Park: Features walking trails through dense rainforest, including the famous Curtis Falls, Witches Falls, and Cedar Creek Falls.
• Skywalk Tamborine: A 300-meter-long steel bridge through the rainforest canopy.
• Gallery Walk: A charming shopping and café strip filled with art galleries, boutiques, and local food spots.
• Glow Worm Caves: A man-made cave that simulates natural conditions where glow worms thrive, ideal for families and nature lovers.
• Botanic Gardens: Located on Forsythia Drive, the gardens include lakes, rainforest walks, and themed floral areas.
Other Movies and TV Shows Filmed at Tamborine Mountain:
The lush rainforests and dramatic scenery of Tamborine Mountain have attracted many major filming projects. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017) created mysterious jungle backdrops from the mountain’s dense greenery. For its magical, untamed look, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010) filmed in the surrounding forests. Terra Nova (2011) recreated Earth’s prehistoric past using Tamborine’s prehistoric landscape. Even reality TV shows like I’m a Celebrity have noticed. Get Me Out of Here! (UK and AU) was filmed mostly in New South Wales but Tamborine was chosen for its rainforest aesthetic.
IPSWICH – HISTORIC STAND-IN FOR LONDON
Ipswich is located in South East Queensland, Australia, approximately 40 kilometers west of Brisbane. It’s one of Queensland’s oldest provincial cities, on the Bremer River and easily accessible from Brisbane by road and rail. Ipswich replicates 19th-century life with its colonial charm and heritage architecture.
In Nautilus, Ipswich served as a stand-in for 19th-century London, particularly in scenes depicting urban streets, colonial quarters, and British governmental buildings. Thanks to its preserved architecture, the production didn’t need to digitally recreate historical London—the filmmakers simply adapted real locations to fit the period. Cobblestone roads, red-brick facades, iron railings—and Victorian details provided a convincing British setting.
Victorian architecture, historic sites, and lush green spaces make Ipswich a cultural hub. Top of Town has boutique shopping in charming old buildings, and the Workshops Rail Museum displays restored trains and railway history. Queens Park and its Japanese Gardens offer peaceful walks, and St. Mary’s Catholic Church is a 19th-century landmark. The historic Ipswich Art Gallery hosts rotating exhibitions and creative workshops.
Other Productions Filmed in Ipswich:
Several notable productions have been filmed in Ipswich, known for its well-preserved heritage charm. The Railway Man (2013), starring Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman, shot period scenes at the city’s historic rail sites. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010) also filmed in the region, taking advantage of its timeless townscapes. TV dramas like Harrow and Reef Break incorporated Ipswich’s older precincts into key scenes, while the Australian drama Stranded (2006) used several landmarks to recreate a 19th-century setting.
MAAS MARINA – NAVAL ESCAPE LOCATION IN STEIGLITZ, QUEENSLAND
Maas Marina is located at 82 Cabbage Tree Point Road, Steiglitz, in the northern part of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. It sits on the edge of the Moreton Bay Marine Park, an ecologically significant area famous for its mangroves, tidal flats, and boating channels.
Maas Marina serves as a key launch point for private vessels and fishing trips. The nearby Cabbage Tree Point Reserve offers picnic facilities, a boat ramp, and access to the Logan River estuary, popular for recreational boating and fishing. It’s a quiet, scenic escape from the more commercial areas of Gold Coast.
In Nautilus, the marina was used for naval escape scenes, including sequences where Captain Nemo’s submarine avoids detection and where boats transport goods or crew.
TALLEBUDGERA – GOLD COAST’S HIDDEN GEM
Tallebudgera is a beachside suburb located roughly 16.7 km south of Surfers Paradise, in the City of Gold Coast, Queensland. Tallebudgera Creek, a turquoise-blue waterway perfect for swimming, paddleboarding, and kayaking, is famous. The nearby Burleigh Head National Park has scenic hiking trails with Pacific Ocean views. Echo Beach offers peace and quiet for those who avoid crowds.
In Nautilus, Tallebudgera was used for beachside and tropical exterior scenes, including episodes that required castaways, mysterious shorelines and lush, remote locations. The visual serenity of the area matched the show’s adventurous and mysterious tone.
For its secluded beach scenes, Blake Lively’s The Shallows (2016) used Lord Howe Island, Gold Coast and Tallebudgera beaches.Waterway scenes in Tallebudgera were shot for the Australian drama Sea Patrol.
BRISBANE – MUSEUMS AND GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS
Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, lies on the Brisbane River, with the Old Museum Building in Bowen Hills and the Queensland Parliament House in Brisbane City at the heart of filming.
The Old Museum Building, built in 1891, is an architectural icon known for its red brick façade, arched colonnades, and historic concert halls. It now hosts cultural events and music performances.
Queensland Parliament House is a 19th-century government building that still functions as the legislative seat. Visitors can take guided tours through its ornate chambers, library, and gardens.
The Old Museum was used for interior scenes involving formal British colonial settings. Meanwhile, the Parliament House served as the headquarters for the British East India Mercantile Company, with scenes depicting political drama, plotting, and aristocratic power.
Other productions filmed here:
Harrow (ABC Studios), a crime drama, used parts of the Old Museum Building for courtroom and institutional scenes. The Family Law (SBS) has also utilized Brisbane’s Parliament surroundings for various public building backdrops. Tidelands (Netflix) and Thor: Ragnarok (2017) filmed other parts of Brisbane’s urban and architectural landmarks.
FORT LYTTON NATIONAL PARK – MILITARY FLASHBACKS
Fort Lytton National Park is situated at 60 South Street, Lytton, around 13 kilometers east of Brisbane’s CBD, near the mouth of the Brisbane River.
The park houses Fort Lytton, a 19th-century pentagonal fortress built in the 1880s to protect Brisbane from naval attack. Today, it is one of the best-preserved colonial defense sites in Australia. Visitors can explore the moats, tunnels, underground magazines, and barracks. There are regular historical re-enactments, museum displays, and interactive military exhibitions.
Fort Lytton provided an authentic backdrop for military flashbacks involving the British Army and scenes depicting colonial control. Its period-correct structures and rugged exteriors added historical weight to the show’s themes of resistance and imperialism.
Other productions filmed here:
Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan (2019) used the fort for its detailed wartime re-creation. Anzac Girls (ABC) also filmed scenes at Fort Lytton to depict wartime infrastructure and colonial outposts. Various local Queensland short films and historical documentaries have used Fort Lytton for reenactments.
BEHIND THE SCENES: CHALLENGES AND DEDICATION
Shazad Latif mentioned that the role was physically demanding. The shoot stretched over 210 days, involving action-packed sequences, sword fights, and stunt work. Much of the show was filmed on practical sets, with less reliance on CGI than expected.
In Episode 4, for instance, nearly the entire episode was shot on location. Latif specifically enjoyed the natural elements of filming, noting that it helped him immerse himself in Captain Nemo’s journey.
The dedication to historical accuracy and environmental detail helped Nautilus feel grounded in a believable world, even while telling a fictional tale.
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