Production is now underway in the Northern Territory for upcoming episodes of NCIS: Sydney, with filming officially kicking off in Darwin. This marks a significant step in bringing the next season to life, with the stunning landscapes of the Top End set to play a key role in the show.
Earlier this year, Endemol Shine Australia, CBS Studios, Paramount Australia, and Screen Territory announced that two episodes of NCIS: Sydney would be filmed in the Northern Territory. This initiative is part of Screen Territory’s Production Attraction Incentive Program (PAIP), which aims to draw high-profile film projects to the area, boosting the local economy and showcasing the NT on a global stage.
As the first international version of the NCIS franchise, NCIS: Sydney follows a “brilliant and eclectic team” of US NCIS agents and Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers who have joined forces in a multi-national task force to tackle naval crimes.
In his four-star review of Season 1 for ScreenHub, Anthony Morris noted that the series sticks closely to the tried-and-true NCIS formula. “To be extremely clear, this isn’t trying to do anything new with the by-now very well-established NCIS formula,” Morris wrote. “If you like those series, you’ll almost certainly like this.”
Morris also pointed out the occasional cultural differences, particularly with regard to military themes, which highlight that NCIS: Sydney is ultimately a show made for American audiences. While these differences could be interesting for the series to explore in future episodes, Morris suggested it’s unlikely. He concluded that, like its predecessors, NCIS: Sydney is a well-oiled entertainment machine, with the only significant change being a light-hearted joke about Wagga Wagga.
The addition of the Northern Territory’s unique locations to NCIS: Sydney promises to bring a fresh visual element to the series, even as it remains firmly rooted in the familiar NCIS universe.
