The next instalment of The Chronicles of Narnia is going to be shot in Queensland, Australia. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader will feature lots of adventure sequences aboard a ship headed for the very edges of the world to save Narnia, which is once again in peril. Along the way, the Dawn Treaders shipmates will face magical Dufflepuds, slave traders, dragons and enchanted merfolk – the usual then.

In the face of global economic uncertainty it looks like Australia’s tax laws remain alluring enough to keep big Hollywood productions coming to our shores. The Narnia series, which has been adapted from the much loved C.S Lewis books has started principal photography in Queensland late last month.

Warner Roadshow Studios are hosting the production, which will make extensive use of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest water tank facility.

The film is being directed by Michael Apted who also did The World Is Not Enough and Gorillas in the Mist. Returning to the franchise are Georgie Henley and Skander Keynes, as two of the Pevensie children, as well as Ben Barnes (soon to be seen as the eponymous character in Dorian Gray) as the princely Caspian. Also, Liam Neeson will once again lend his roar to Aslan, the lion ruler of Narnia. Australian actors announced as cast members include stalwarts Gary Sweet (playing the Dawn Treader’s Captain Drinian) and Bruce Spence (as Lord Rhoop).