A HIT Disney TV show is set to begin filming its second season in Co Down this week, providing a boost for the north’s film industry.
Following an extremely successful first season last year, kid’s musical drama 'The Lodge' is returning to the Montalto Estate in Ballynahinch for a longer string of episodes and a bigger production than it had first time round.
With some funding from Northern Ireland Screen supported by Invest NI, The Lodge has brought in just under half of its cast and crew from the north, many of whom will be based in Belfast for the duration of the shoot.
The series follows the story of Skye, a 15-year-old city girl who travels with her father to live in a rural holiday lodge following the death of her mother,
Aside from the Montalto Estate itself, eagle-eyed viewers can also catch a glimpse of Castlewellan Forest Park in the upcoming season.
The first string of 10 episodes, which finished shooting last spring, became the highest rated series debut on Disney Channel UK in the last four years and accompanying digital content has already received over 14 million views.
The second series of the show will run for 15 episodes, with production in the north expected to be completed in April.
A large part of the show’s appeal are its musical tropes, with the cast performing a dozen original songs, allowing The Lodge to capture its part of the music as well as the television market.
Speaking to The Irish News, Disney’s vice president of programming, production and Strategic Development in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, David Levine, said Northern Ireland has been a huge benefit for the show.
"Northern Ireland has a great production base who we were happy to work with and great incredible locations," he said.
"Disney is always looking for great talent, both in front and behind the camera and Northern Ireland has a lot both, so we were really happy to come here in the first instance.
"Northern Ireland has welcomed Disney with open arms and we’re happy to back for the second season."
Although tight-lipped about the exact budget of the show, Mr Levine said Disney were making a "pretty significant investment" in the production.
The Lodge will be hoping to mirror some of the success captured by other productions basing themselves in the north, the most lucrative being HBO’s Game of Thrones.
In October, Northern Ireland Screen reported that the hit fantasy series had contributed some £146m to the region’s economy, with tourist attractions and visitors turning the small screen tales into big money cash cows.
