NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Entertainment

Brad Pitt filming near Queenstown: Hollywood A-lister’s latest blockbuster under way

Kurt Bayer
By Kurt Bayer
South Island Head of News·NZ Herald·
6 Mar, 2025 05:00 AM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

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 Basterds quietly 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.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

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
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
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.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

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
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
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
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
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.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Pitt’s girlfriend of more than two years, Swiss jewellery professional Ines de Ramon, is thought to be arriving in Queenstown halfway through the shoot, Society Insider reported.

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.

Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Entertainment

Entertainment

Watch: Smokefreerockquest and Showquest at Wellington, Otago, Hamilton and TOI Auckland

Entertainment

Kiwi singer known for hit song Haere Mai (Everything is Kapai) dies

Entertainment

'A new exciting chapter': Major event moves to Wānaka


Sponsored

Sponsored: Why heat pumps make winter cheaper

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Entertainment

Watch: Smokefreerockquest and Showquest at Wellington, Otago, Hamilton and TOI Auckland
Entertainment

Watch: Smokefreerockquest and Showquest at Wellington, Otago, Hamilton and TOI Auckland

This week's webisodes have all the highlights from week six's regional finals.

17 Jul 07:58 AM
Kiwi singer known for hit song Haere Mai (Everything is Kapai) dies
Entertainment

Kiwi singer known for hit song Haere Mai (Everything is Kapai) dies

17 Jul 07:11 AM
'A new exciting chapter': Major event moves to Wānaka
Entertainment

'A new exciting chapter': Major event moves to Wānaka

16 Jul 11:47 PM


Sponsored: Why heat pumps make winter cheaper
Sponsored

Sponsored: Why heat pumps make winter cheaper

01 Jul 04:58 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP