Chris Lilley Returns To Film New Netflix Series On The Gold Coast

Comedian Chris Lilley is returning to the spotlight for the first time since he was widely criticised for posting a controversial video to his Instagram in 2017.

Lilley was widely criticized for the clip and faced fury from a number of notable names, including Indigenous duo AB Original last year after he shared a blackface music video for Squashed N***a, only hours after protests in Melbourne over the death of 14-year-old Indigenous boy Elijah Doughty.

“It took five years to get that credence to tell everyone that what he did was racist and fucking whack,” Briggs told The Music at the time.

“It shows his disconnection from black culture, black politics and black people in general.”

For his new project, the actor is set to team up with Netflix for a 10-episode project is set to film on the Gold Coast between March and June this year, adding an estimated $6.35 million into the local economy.

“I am delighted to have enticed Chris Lilley and producer Laura Waters to Queensland,” Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.

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“The series will employ up to 250 Queensland cast and extras, plus around 100 Queensland crew. The project will also support two local screen practitioners, who will have the opportunity to work on the series to further develop their professional skills.”

It will be Lilley’s first foray into television since 2014’s Jonah from Tonga which attracted criticism in Australia and overseas for Lilley’s demeaning portrayal of Tongan culture and his use of blackface to play the character.