3-7-2024 (KUALA LUMPUR) Forest City, a sprawling development project in Johor Bahru that once promised to be a bustling metropolis, has found an unexpected second life as a coveted filming location for international television productions. The China-backed venture, which now stands largely vacant, has become an unlikely star in its own right, offering a hauntingly beautiful backdrop for various TV shows and documentaries.
Forest City, initially conceived as a luxury residential paradise by Chinese real estate giant Country Garden, fell victim to a perfect storm of challenges. China’s tightened capital controls and the global Covid-19 pandemic effectively stemmed the flow of potential buyers, leaving the project in a state of limbo. With only a fraction of its intended construction completed and a mere 9,000 residents occupying its 21,000 units, Forest City seemed destined to become a modern-day ghost town.
However, what was once viewed as a colossal failure has now become an asset in the world of television production. The city’s vast, uninhabited spaces and towering apartment blocks have proven to be an ideal canvas for filmmakers seeking unique and atmospheric settings.
One of the most high-profile productions to take advantage of Forest City’s eerie charm is the second season of ‘The Mole’, a reality series that pits 12 contestants against each other in a game of deception and challenges. The show’s producers utilised the ghost city’s expansive landscapes and vacant high-rises to create a surreal backdrop for their thrilling tasks, which included treasure hunts, free diving, and even abseiling from a 38-story building.
But ‘The Mole’ is not alone in recognising Forest City’s potential. South Korea’s KBS network chose the location for an episode of their travel reality series ‘Battle Trip’, while Germany’s ProSieben used the ghost city as a compelling setting for a documentary. Austrian filmmakers also found inspiration in Forest City’s abandoned vistas, shooting scenes for their documentary ‘Hungry: Tipping the Scales’ amidst its empty streets and unoccupied buildings.
This unexpected pivot from residential development to film set has breathed new life into Forest City, offering a glimmer of hope for a project that once seemed doomed to failure. While it may not have fulfilled its original purpose of housing thousands of residents, Forest City has found a new calling in the entertainment industry.
