Hollywood veteran John Travolta has landed on sub-tropical Gran Canaria to begin filming Black Tides, a new survival thriller directed by Renny Harlin. The production not only brings yet one more A-list name to the island but also adds to a string of high-profile shoots that have recently taken place among Gran Canarias versatile array of locations and landscapes.

Piloting His Own Arrival

Travolta, 71, touched down at Gran Canaria’s Gando airport on Sunday morning, personally flying his customised Boeing 737-300. The aircraft, once operated by British Airways and later by several other airlines, has been converted for private use and now carries the registration N322JT — his initials on the fuselage. Aviation is a lifelong passion for the actor, who has built up a small fleet including jets from Gulfstream and Bombardier.

He is expected to remain on the island until late October, with filming taking place at undisclosed locations all around Gran Canaria.

Black Tides is inspired by recent orca–boat incidents off Spain and Portugal. Travolta plays Bill Pierce, a man trying to reconnect with his estranged daughter Rebecca and young grandson Sebastian during a family sailing trip. What begins as an attempt at healing becomes a nightmare when their yacht is relentlessly attacked by a pod of rogue orcas while crossing the Strait of Gibraltar.

The script, by Chris Sparling (Buried, Greenland) and Ángel Agudo (Apocalypse Z), blends family drama with tense survival. Harlin, known for Die Hard 2, Cliffhanger and the shark thriller Deep Blue Sea, has promised “old-school” filmmaking with real water work and practical effects.

While the premise is cinematic, marine biologists have repeatedly stressed that wild orcas very rarely pose a threat to humans. Most scientists describe the Iberian incidents as boat-focused behaviour — often damaging rudders — rather than attacks on people. To date, there have been no confirmed human casualties.

Stars Keep Coming

Travolta’s arrival follows closely on the heels of other big-name visits.

• Samuel L. Jackson spent mid-September on Gran Canaria filming Just Play Dead (Hazte el muerto), co-starring Eva Green and María Pedraza. He was even spotted (for the second time in less than a year) enjoying pizza at a restaurant first visited in 2024, in Las Palmas, creating a local stir.

• Antonio Banderas has also been at work here, shooting Above and Below, a marine thriller featuring yachts and shark sequences. He was seen aboard the Afrikat69 excursion boat near Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria.

Their appearances, back-to-back with Travolta’s, have given the island a distinctly Hollywood flavour in recent weeks.

Other Productions

Gran Canaria is not only attracting international stars but also serving as a base for major Spanish projects. Recent shoots include La Cena (The Dinner), Padre no hay más que uno 5 by Santiago Segura, and the dark comedy Uno equis dos with Paco León. While these have a more domestic audience, they reinforce the island’s reputation as a versatile filming location.

Producer Adrián Guerra’s company Nostromo Pictures, behind Black Tides, has become a major player, with credits including Buried, Bird Box Barcelona and Amazon’s Apocalypse Z. The company is also currently involved in projects starring Penélope Cruz and Johnny Depp, highlighting the Canaries’ growing international pull.

Why Gran Canaria?

The attraction is twofold. Firstly, the natural variety: desert dunes, volcanic landscapes, colonial towns and the Atlantic Ocean can all be reached within an hour’s drive. This flexibility allows the islands to double for a wide range of global locations.

Secondly, the infrastructure: Las Palmas now boasts Gran Canaria Studios, with sound stages and water tanks capable of supporting complex productions. Local crews are increasingly experienced, and generous tax incentives — among the best in Europe — make the islands competitive against traditional film hubs.

A Touch of Glamour

For residents, the arrival of stars like Travolta, Jackson and Banderas is more than headline gossip. Productions bring a surge in hotel bookings, restaurant trade, transport services, and jobs for local professionals. Extras, technicians and suppliers all benefit when big shoots come to town.

Still, Black Tides also touches on a more serious conversation: how popular culture portrays wildlife. While the film promises edge-of-the-seat drama, ecologists note that orcas are highly intelligent, social animals with no history of attacking humans at sea. Whether the “orca horror” label will be embraced or challenged remains to be seen, but the movie is sure to spark debate as well as box office interest.

A Rising Hub

From Travolta’s personal jet landing at Gando, to Jackson at a pizzeria in the capital, to Banderas shooting off the southern coast, Gran Canaria has rarely seen so many stars in such quick succession. The wave of productions reflects a bigger trend: the Canary Islands are no longer just a sun-seekers’ paradise, but a serious player in the global film industry.