The shinking Australian dollar does have is advantages – much as it did in the late 90’s when films like The Matrix were enticed to come to Australia, two massive new projects will film in Australia in the year ahead, as the US sees their dollar going further here – with financial support from the Australian Government only serving to sweeten the deal.
It was anonunced last week that both Marvel Studios’ Thor: Ragnarok and 20th Century Fox’s untitled Ridley Scott Alien project (a follow-up to Prometheus), will film in Australia, much to the delight of the local industry.
“These two major US productions will inject hundreds of millions of dollars into the economy, employ thousands of people across Australia not just within our screen industry but will also utilise Australian goods and services. Productions of this size also contribute to generating skills and training of Australia’s crews and represent a major development and investment opportunity for creative talent both in front of and behind the camera.” said Debra Richards, CEO of Ausfilm, the government funded company that helps bring new projects to Australia.
Thor comes off the back of The Walt Disney Company’s positive experience earlier this year working with Australia’s film crews, the Australian Government and Queensland state government through Screen Queensland on Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. Ausfilm sites their efforts to entice Ridley Scott to the country, saing in their press release: “Ausfilm hosted the creative team on a location scout in May 2014 under Ausfilm’s annual Australian Familiarisation program for international filmmakers.”
Thor: Ragnarok, which according to reports this week will be a bit of a buddy movie between Thor and Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk, is due for release in July 2017. So fans of Ruffalo in Australia should have some sightings to look forward to. New Zealand filmmaker Taika Waititi will be behind the camera for the third Thor, taking over from Alan Taylor. Doctor Strange will be the next Marvel film to go into production, but Thor 3 shouldn’t be far behind. The Scott Alien project – set to be directed by South African filmmaker Neill Blomkamp – is also due for a 2017 release.
No precise details have been provided as to when and where in Australia the productions will film in 2016, but stay tuned to The Iris for more details.
———-
