Hot stuff: Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey in a scene from the film Fool's Gold that was shot in the Cairns region. Image: Supplied

The movie that brought the Hollywood A-list to Cairns and Port Douglas is about to hit cinemas across the country. Check out our photo gallery of the stars in action and go to our Entertainment section for the movie trailer

Click here for our great photo gallery of the stars at play in the Far North during the filming of Fool's Gold. 

The Australian premiere of Fool’s Gold will be screened at Warner Bros Movieworld’s Roxy Theatre at the Gold
Coast tonight.

But the stars of the film, Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson, will not be back in Queensland for the event because of commitments in the United States.

The adventure-comedy film, about an estranged couple’s search for lost treasure, was shot on location across the state, predominantly at Port Douglas and Lizard Island, north of Cairns.

Port Douglas was transformed into Key West, Florida, while Lizard Island became a pristine Caribbean isle owned by rapper turned gangster, “Bigg Bunny”.

The Far North was the centre of national attention during the filming in November 2006, with the stars of the movie spotted relaxing and celebrating McConaughey’s 37th birthday.

During promotion interviews for Fool’s Gold, both McConaughey and Hudson have told of encounters with dangerous Australian wildlife, including pythons, irukandji and funnel web spiders.

“I had an eight foot (2.5m) amethystine python in the coconut tree in the backyard of my Port Douglas house and a six foot (1.8m) garden python in my shed,” McConaughey said.

The stars said filming was disturbed by irukandji jellyfish with two people hospitalised after being stung.

Cairns actors Michelle Caunt and Sean Kneebone worked on the film as body doubles for McConaughey and Hudson.

They said despite the wildlife, the Hollywood actors were huge fans of the region.

“They loved it,” Mr Kneebone said. “The beauty and laid-back lifestyle was a welcome change to the hustle and bustle they're used to.”

The two Australians were welcomed in to the fold and quickly became part of the “family”.

“They were all very nice to us,” Ms Caunt said.

Queensland Arts Minister Rod Welford, who is attending the Australian premiere, said Fool’s Gold showcased  

Queensland’s great beauty and was a “shining example” of the state’s production capability.

He said the film created 1155 jobs for Queensland cast and crew, and contributed significantly to the state’s impressive $159 million production expenditure total for the 2006-2007 financial year.

Fool’s Gold will begin screening nationally on February 7.

Birch Carroll and Coyle Cairns marketing manager Meagan O’Grady said although there would be no local premiere events for the movie, promoters were expecting it to do exceptionally well in Cairns.

“We do anticipate the release of Fool’s Gold to be really big in Cairns because it was filmed in the region,” Ms
O’Grady said.

For more behind-the-scenes action from the film, read the full story in next Wednesday’s edition of
cairnseye magazine.