Season 2

**Season 2** of *The Bureau of Magical Things* was listed as being in development by ZDF Enterprises as early as September 12, 2018. This was reiterated by Jonathan M. Shiff, who claimed that Season 2 was coming "very soon" as of February 5, 2019. Eventually, on November 27, it was confirmed by Screen Australia that production of Season 2 was to take place from December 2019 to July 2020. After a temporary suspension in production due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, however, filming was set to conclude in September 2020.

*The Bureau of Magical Things* is supported by City of Gold Coast, Screen Queensland and Screen Australia.

The trailer was released on April 19, 2021.

Season 2 began airing on July 10, 2021 on 10Shake Australia.

## Plot

When Kyra and Darra embark on a quest to find a legendary lost temple, Kyra's magic accidentally awakens a dangerous object causing fairy and elf magic to malfunction.

## Production

### Announcement and suspension

Originally, production of Season 2 was to take place from December 2019 to July 2020, with shooting taking place in an Arundel studio, Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Carraraled due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

As explained by executive producer Jonathan M. Shiff: "Originally some time ago it was scripted for 80 per cent Gold Coast and 20 per cent Asia. And then of course with COVID, we had to rethink that and strategise."

From within the Library of Magic set, the cast members (Kimie Tsukakoshi, Elizabeth Cullen, Mia Milnes, Julian Cullen, Rainbow Wedell, and Jamie Carter) recorded a message which was released on Twitter, advising viewers to wash their hands and keep safe, while reassuring that *The Bureau of Magical Things* would return for Season 2.

### Return to production

After developing a unique COVID plan and with City of Gold Coast funding support, Mr. Shiff was able to return the multimillion-dollar production to the Glitter Strip Eventually, after a production delay of three months, it was announced that Season 2 would resume filming at the Gold Coast from June 29, 2020. In addition, a new cast member was announced: Miah Madden to play the role of Tayla. Under the amended schedule, filming took place until September.

On June 30, another new cast member was announced, Matthew Manahan to play the role of Ben.

On 20 July, an interview with Mr. Shiff was released. It was reported that directors Evan Clarry and Martha Goddard had completed the first 10 of Season 2's 20 episodes the last week, with Grant Brown to direct the remaining 10.

As reported in Gold Coast Bulletin on 31 July, Season 2 of *The Bureau of Magical Things* TV series was the first production in Australia to get back underway, reviving the industry after the shutdown in response to the coronavirus. And the COVID safety precautions set in place by Mr. Shiff became a manual for other filmmakers and the wider arts industry in Australia. Cast and crew of the award-winning children's fantasy series took up occupancy in a luxury mansion at Broadbeach Waters, with masks and social distancing the priority at all times when not shooting.

On budget, Mr. Shiff disclosed "It's a spend of $9 million in the local area. It's an $11.1 million show. It's 200 jobs. It's a big production." Iconic Gold Coast locations from Mt Tamborine to the Botanic Gardens at Benowa and the Carrara Markets were used in scenes, with the Broadbeach Waters mansion to be used until filming ends. The Broadbeach Waters house had been used previously in 2008 for his series *The Elephant Queen*, which had starred Margot Robbie.

Mt Tamborine was used to resemble the Vietnam jungle. Mr. Shiff observed that "The beauty of the Gold Coast is you have so many worlds you can create."

The Gold Coast Bulletin was taken on an exclusive tour of the set. Their team was asked to sign in, have temperature checks and to wear masks at all times. Mr. Shiff explained "You can't just have the one make-up truck because you can only use two chairs. (We needed) two buses, more green rooms, more portable offices and spaces, more staff." He added "Once you start putting all the extra crew you need, you have $500,000 to $600,000 more to spend for COVID safety. Our COVID manual is now being shared with other filmmakers and people in the arts industry in Australia." Industry insiders reported that other major productions were in talks of resuming films and TV series on the Gold Coast, where Queensland coronavirus restrictions are less strict.

### Conclusion of production

On 12 September, the Jonathan M. Shiff Twitter account announced that there was only four days left before finishing filming. Finally, on 16 September, the official *The Bureau of Magical Things* Twitter account announced that filming of Season 2 had been completed. A short video presented by Kimie Tsukakoshi provided a behind the scenes look at Season 2. As of this day, Season 2 is "coming soon".

## Cast

### Main Cast

* Kimie Tsukakoshi as Kyra Glen
* Elizabeth Cullen as Imogen Blackwell
* Mia Milnes as Lily Reegan
* Julian Cullen as Darra Blackwell
* Rainbow Wedell as Ruksy Tevala
* Jamie Carter as Peter
* Christopher Sommers as Professor Maxwell

### Recurring Cast

* Arnijka Larcombe-Weate as Mathilda
* Nicholas Bell as Sean Reegan
* Steve Nation as Steve Glen
* Tasneem Roc as Dr. Apinya Surinat
* Miah Madden as Tayla Devlin
* Matthew Manahan as Ben Reid

## Episodes

1. Vanished
2. A Dangerous Secret
3. Fortuna's Compact
4. The Big Sneeze
5. Welcome to the Jungle
6. Mirror Image
7. Testing Times
8. Almost Famous
9. The Key to the Past
10. The Message
11. The Enchanted Wood
12. Liar, Liar
13. Let The Games Begin
14. New Tricks
15. Party Time
16. Revelations
17. The Heist
18. Beginning Of The End
19. A Desperate Plan
20. No More Secrets

## References

1. ↑ https://twitter.com/tbomt123/status/1039945375233306624
2. ↑ https://twitter.com/ufojmsp/status/1092608987810254848
3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/sa/media-centre/news/2019/11-27-the-bureau-of-magical-things-season-2?utm\_source=social&utm\_medium=twitter&utm\_campaign=2019-11-27-the-bureau-of-magical-things-season-2
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/entertainment/bureau-of-magical-things-film-set-takes-over-gold-coast-mansion/news-story/d0d454ddc9d2c183136f46b2ec33ccf6
5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8X0y553Fz4
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 http://nickalive.blogspot.com/2019/11/nickelodeon-acquires-rights-to-bureau.html
7. ↑ https://twitter.com/OfficialTBoMT/status/1243741731062857730
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 https://twitter.com/OfficialTBoMT/status/1272020652506050560
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 https://twitter.com/OfficialTBoMT/status/1277862066745864195
10. ↑ https://www.if.com.au/jonathan-m-shiff-on-the-new-shooting-protocols-and-why-the-tv-producer-offset-must-be-doubled/
11. ↑ https://twitter.com/ufojmsp/status/1304657064510144513
12. ↑ https://twitter.com/OfficialTBoMT/status/1306526322341052417