Principal photography is underway on the supernatural thriller Winchester, the new feature from Peter and Michael Spierig (Predestination) starring Academy Award®-winner Helen Mirren (The Queen, Eye in the Sky) and Jason Clarke (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Zero Dark Thirty). 

Based at Docklands Studios Melbourne the production will utilise Victorian locations such as Labassa, Ripponlea and Werribee Mansion doubling for San Jose in the early 1900′ s, before shooting moves to the real Winchester Mystery House.

Winchester is the spooky tale of firearm heiress Sarah Winchester (Helen Mirren) who after the sudden deaths of her husband and child, believed she was haunted by the souls killed at the hands of the Winchester repeating rifle. She threw herself into the 24-hour day, seven-days-a-week construction of an enormous 160-room mansion designed to keep the evil spirits at bay. But when sceptical San Francisco psychiatrist Eric Price is dispatched to the estate to evaluate her state of mind, he discovers that her obsession may not be so insane after all.

Writer/directors Peter and Michael Spierig said “There have been few haunted house stories that have captured our imaginations quite like the legend of the Winchester House. Sarah Winchester was an eccentric pioneer, an inventor, a woman plagued by her family’s legacy, we couldn’t be more thrilled to have Helen Mirren bring this fascinating character to life.“

Jenni Tosi, CEO Film Victoria said: “We’re delighted the Spierig brothers are back in Melbourne with their new film Winchester and working with our talented cast and crews. We’re equally thrilled to welcome the peerless Dame Helen Mirren to Melbourne, and hope she’ll also have time to experience our world-renowned culture and cuisine.”

Winchester is produced by Blacklab Entertainment’s Tim McGahan (Predestination) and Imagination Design Works’ Brett Tomberlin. Australian/NZ distributor is StudioCanal. International sales by Diamond Pictures, Bullitt Entertainment and US Distribution confirmed via CBS Films.

Winchester secured support through Film Victoria’s Production Incentive Attraction Fund, along with Screen Australia Production Investment, and assistance from Screen Queensland.

For more information on Victoria’s locations and Film Victoria’s incentives, contact :

Joe Brinkmann/ Manager – Incentives and Investments / [email protected]

or visit www.film.vic.gov.au