THE shooting of Thor: Ragnarok on the Gold Coast last year could be the start of an influx of superhero movies shooting in Australia.
Rival DC franchise movie Aquaman is currently being filmed at the same Village Roadshow Studios and powerhouse superhero stable Marvel, the makers of Thor, say theyd shoot another movie Down Under in a heartbeat.
While leading man Chris Hemsworth filmed a gladiatorial battle scene on the Thor: Ragnarok set last October, Marvels on-ground producer Brad Winderbaum said the country had been amazing.
When we first were thinking about how to shoot the project, Australia was the exciting idea. The question was, is the incentive (government rebate) going to work out for the corporate guys? he said.
But from a creative point of view it was by far the most exciting option. We were looking at the natural beauty of the place theres so much great natural wonder very close by that we could put on screen for the first time.
I would shoot another movie out here in a heartbeat. Its a great place to work, its a great place to live for months and months. I would recommend shooting here to anyone.
Thor: Ragnarok the third headline movie for Hemsworths Nordic god took over the entirety of Village Roadshow Studios from July through the end of October 2016, with Hemsworth shuttling between the Gold Coast and his home in Byron Bay.
I do a few days down there in Byron and a few days up here and vice versa with my wife and the kids, Hemsworth said.
Its just been so nice to sleep in my own bed and do all those things that Ive missed for the last 10 years cos Ive been elsewhere.
For four days last August, the production also ventured to Brisbane, shutting down a CBD street and laneway as the Queensland capital doubled for New York.
Photographs of Hemsworth and co-star Tom Hiddleston greeting fans between takes were seen around the world. Hemsworth described the experience of filming on the streets of Brisbane as one that doesnt happen anywhere else in the world.
And an image deliberately leaked by Marvel, linking another favourite Marvel character, Doctor Strange, to Ragnarok had fanboys in a frenzy.
Weve shot in Central Park in New York and people are pretty jaded by film crews there, theyre like, Get out of the way! Whereas here, the whole city felt like it stopped. There were more people there than Id seen at any premiere Id done, so that was pretty special.
Ragnaroks New Zealand director Taika Waititi said Brisbane fans waited all day for Hemsworth and Hiddleston to say hello, but remained polite and respectful at all times.
When we were shooting they would all shut up and then theyd all start screaming again once we called cut. It was so weird.
If there are any downsides to filming a huge blockbuster in Australia, Marvels Winderbaum couldnt think of any.
Im tempted to say the distance from our home base, but the reality is that offers some benefits as well, he said with a laugh.
Stars jetted in and out of Australia during the shoot, with Sir Anthony Hopkins spending six days on set, Idris Elba eight days, Jeff Goldblum seven days, Mark Ruffalo four weeks and the movies centrepiece villain, Cate Blanchett, seven weeks.
Sam Neill also dropped in for a couple of days to shoot a part that remains a secret.
After Australias embrace of Waititis Kiwi comedy Hunt for the Wilderpeople last year, the director riffed about the prospect of moving across the Tasman.
Man, they love us over here: me, Russell Crowe and Phar Lap.
Hemsworth, who is now back in Australia after a stint living in LA, said hed love to shoot every movie at home.
So Im certainly trying to push that when I can, he said.