Written by on Aug 26, 2011. Posted in On Location

Law & Order Cape Town could boost South Africa’s international profile

Law & Order is coming to Cape Town. The massively popular US crime drama has produced numerous spinoffs in America and also has a UK version, but now South Africa is planning to use the brand recognition to its advantage. It’ll be set and shot in Cape Town with a local cast and crew.

Denis Lillie is head of the Cape Film Commission: “With its wide audience base, this show will tap directly into the homes of potential tourists. In addition to tourism revenue, each of the 12 episodes will generate around R3 million for the local economy and create much-needed jobs in the film industry. The road closures and minor inconveniences associated with the shoot will be offset multiple times by the gains that the region will incur.”

With its wide audience base, this show will tap directly into the homes of potential tourists. In addition to tourism revenue, each of the 12 episodes will generate around R3 million for the local economy.

Denis Lillie, Cape Film Commission

South Africa has established itself as one of the leading production hubs but international projects frequently use its landscapes as doubles for other parts of the world. One of the most recent international projects to visit the country was action series Strike Back, which doubled Durban for Pakistan and India.

The arrival of Law & Order in spring 2012, along with the recent opening of Cape Town Film Studios, could lead to an increase in high-profile screen stories set in Cape Town.