Television Series
The Wilds
2020–2022
Filmed In
Auckland
Towns & Areas
Bethells Beach (Te Henga) and Piha Beach, west Auckland
The Story
A gripping, mystery-laden survival drama that plays like a modern Lord of the Flies meets Lost. A group of teenage girls from wildly different backgrounds are stranded on a deserted island after a plane crash, unaware they are part of an elaborate social experiment.
The Stars
Sophia Ali, Shannon Berry, and Rachel Griffiths. This young ensemble carries the show's central mystery across an entire season shot along Auckland's rugged West Coast.
Behind the Lens
Created by Sarah Streicher. Streicher created the series around a dual-timeline structure, revealing the island's twist gradually across the first season.
Why NZ?
The entire first season was filmed along the rugged, windswept coastline of Auckland's West Coast, particularly around Bethells Beach (Te Henga), which perfectly provided the dramatic, isolated desert-island look required for the high-stakes survival story. The location's genuine sense of isolation, despite sitting close to a major city, is part of what makes it such a popular choice for productions needing a "remote" look without the travel time. The location's blend of isolation and accessibility made it a practical choice for a production working to a television schedule.
On Set
Sarah Pidgeon, playing one of the stranded lead characters, was actually born in Wellington herself. Co-star Erana James has spoken about her mother enthusiastically promoting the show on social media, joking online that the production should "get her on the payroll."
Legacy
The series ran for two seasons on Amazon before its cancellation, developing a dedicated fan following in the years since.
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