Penang Secures Hollywood Spotlight as Mark Wahlberg’s Netflix Film Begins Shooting

GEORGE TOWN, July 14 — Penang has firmly cemented its reputation as a premier international filming destination, with Netflix’s highly anticipated Hollywood production, The Big Fix, starring A-list actor Mark Wahlberg, currently shooting across several of the state’s most iconic heritage locations.

State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee Chairman Wong Hon Wai announced that the two-week production will grant invaluable global exposure to the state via one of the world’s leading streaming services, while simultaneously driving a major economic windfall for local businesses and the domestic creative sector.

“The decision by a major Netflix production starring Wahlberg to film in Penang is another significant milestone for the state’s tourism and creative economy, while bringing invaluable international exposure to Penang through one of the world’s largest streaming platforms,” Wong said in an official press statement today.

“International productions not only create economic opportunities for local businesses, hotels, transport providers and the creative industry, but also strengthen Penang’s position as a film tourism destination by inspiring audiences worldwide to visit the places they see on screen,” he added.

Over the past three days, production crews have been actively filming at several renowned heritage spots and landmarks on Penang Island, including the Jawi Peranakan Mansion, Cheong Fatt Tze – The Blue Mansion, Lorong Ikan in George Town, and the Penang City Stadium.

As The Big Fix, which centers around the competitive world of football, continues its production cycle, Wong revealed that additional sequences are slated to be shot at multiple football stadiums in both Penang and Kuala Lumpur, alongside other locations across the state over the coming week.

The high-profile project is supported by the federal government’s Film in Malaysia Incentive (FIMI) scheme and is closely facilitated by the Office of the Penang State Exco for Tourism and Creative Economy (PETACE) and the Penang Island City Council (MBPP). PETACE has worked in lockstep with Penang Global Tourism, MBPP, the Hollywood production team, and relevant law enforcement agencies to ensure seamless logistics throughout the demanding shooting schedule.

The arrival of the Netflix crew marks the latest high-profile milestone for the state’s creative sector, building upon the momentum generated by the filming of Sandiwara earlier this year, an international production starring Academy Award-winning Malaysian actress Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh.

Wong reiterated that the Penang government, through PETACE and in close collaboration with Penang Global Tourism and strategic industry partners, remains aggressively committed to drawing premium international film shoots to local shores to generate long-term economic value, develop domestic creative talent, and continuously showcase Penang’s unique culture to a global audience.

-NMT