Early planning is under way to develop a destination marketing campaign to coincide with the release of Netflix’s East of Eden.
At an economic development committee meeting yesterday, team leader Antony Deaker told councillors the series would showcase "the gorgeous locations of Central Otago, Oamaru and Dunedin" following filming during the summer.
While a release date had not been confirmed, Film Dunedin was working with Film Otago Southland and the New Zealand Film Commission on a joint campaign.
"We think this project will have a very long tail in terms of showing the light on our region," Mr Deaker said.
"We’ve been proactive and have started conversations with the producers and with the national agency about essentially developing a destination package around the locations — similar to the work that went with The Lord of the Rings and then The Hobbit."
Aside from reserving web domain names, there had been no concrete action taken, but conversations were "progressing warmly", he said.
"We don’t have more that we can share at the moment."
The seven-episode adaptation of the 1952 John Steinbeck novel boasts among its cast Florence Pugh, Martha Plimpton, Christopher Abbott and Ciaran Hinds.
The actor and producer attracted international media attention last week, when he was spotted filming his latest movie in Queenstown.
"I’m sure many women are excited about that — I am," Cr Houlahan said.
She asked council staff if it was possible to encourage Mr Pitt to visit the city.
"Wherever he goes, media go. If he came here, that would be huge."
"Have we got the relationship that we could go to the [film industry] people in Queenstown and say ‘Hey, could you get a message to him that we’d love him to visit Dunedin’.
"Why not be cheeky and ask?"
Committee chairman Andrew Whiley swiftly shot down Cr Houlahan’s suggestion as "not an appropriate question" and — despite her protest of "Are you kidding?" — moved to another speaker.
However, Cr Houlahan was not deterred and pleaded her case later in the meeting.
"[Dunedin’s] worth showing off to the world and an A-lister is a good way to do it."
