Hollywood celebrities including Lance Armstrong, Tom Schwartz, William Shatner and Ronda Rousey take over the Australian outback to film the reality series Stars on Mars in Coober Pedy
Coober Pedy in South Australia has just increased its 2,000 population by a few hundred as international celebrities flock to the outback to film.
The likes of Lance Armstrong, Tom Schwartz, Ariel Winter and Ronda Rousey will test their mettle in the barren landscape in the new reality show Stars on Mars.
Footage created by Seven news on Tuesday showed a small group of large white domes connected by a residential facility in the desert of the opal mining town.
Construction and camera crews were seen around the construction as they prepared for filming to begin in late May ahead of a June premiere.
Intended to simulate the harsh “reality” of surviving on the red planet, the last celebrity to appear on the Coober Pedy set will be dubbed “the celebronaut.”
South Australia’s Coober Pedy (pictured) has just increased its 2,000 population by a few hundred as international celebrities flock to the outback to film
William Shatner (pictured) will host the star-studded reality series
While Stars on Mars will be the largest production shot in SA, it certainly won’t be the first to feature some of Hollywood’s classic cult films shot there.
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, Pitch Black, and The Adventures of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert all had sets in Coober Pedy.
Commissioned by Fox Entertainment and created by Fremantle’s Eureka Productions, the star-studded reality TV show will bring huge benefits to SA residents.
The likes of Lance Armstrong, Ariel Winter and Ronda Rousey (pictured) will test their mettle in the barren landscape in the new reality show Stars on Mars
Vanderpump Rules star Tom Schwartz is one of the notable names booked for the series
According to the state government, the TV project will bring traffic to 150 businesses in the area and create about 250 jobs in the screen industry.
“Stars on Mars may be set on another planet, but this production will have a real impact on the Australian film industry, supporting local jobs and expertise,” said Arts Minister Tony Burke.
The South Australian Film Corporation and government incentives helped get the Coober Pedy project off the ground.
With international celebrities already on set, including Star Trek actor William Shatner, shooting will begin in just a few weeks with the launch on June 5.
The 12 celebrities will compete in competitions to colonize and conquer a simulation of Mars in a quest to be named “the brightest star in the galaxy,” People reported.
Footage captured by Seven News earlier this week shows a small group of large white domes connected by a residential facility in the desert of the opal mining town
Vanderpump Rules star Tom Schwartz is joined on the show by fellow Real Housewives of Atlanta reality star Porsha Williams, musician Tinashe, Modern Family alum Ariel Winter, Superbad actor Christopher Mintz-Plasse, actress Natasha Leggero and fashion entrepreneur Tallulah Willis .
Other notable names from the sports world to compete with include Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon, NFL icons Marshawn Lynch and Richard Sherman, cyclist Lance Armstrong and WWE star Ronda Rousey.
“To all the celebs out there, don’t try this at home,” said Shatner, who was a passenger on Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin space shuttle on a flight to space in October 2021.
The reality show comes a year after Fox made another innovative attempt at the genre with the series Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test, which Hannah Brown won from The Bachelorette as she competed against household names like Mel B, Kate Gosselin and Kenya Moore.
With international celebrities already on set, including Star Trek actor William Shatner (pictured), shooting will begin in a few weeks with the June 5 launch.