Written by Tom Deehan on Jul 4, 2016. Posted in On Location / Production News

Thor: Ragnarok now filming on the Gold Coast

Principal photography has begun on the third instalment of Marvel Studios’ Thor series. Chris Hemsworth will reprise his role as the titular demigod alongside Mark Ruffalo, whose portrayal of Bruce Banner will play a prominent role in the film. New Zealand born Director, Taika Waititi (What We Do in the Shadows) is on board to direct and inject his unique brand of comedy into the franchise.

The film’s list of newcomers include Karl Urban (Star Trek: Beyond), Jeff Goldblum (Independence Day: Resurgence), and Cate Blanchett who will star as the main antagonist, Hela.

The decision to film Thor: Ragnarok in Australia was announced in October 2015, a major win for the nation’s film industry as such a high-profile production will have positive effects on the local economy.

Outdoor sets were built at Village Roadshow Studios over the weekend to turn the Gold Coast into a gladiator’s pit. Using the backlot at Village Roadshow can be tricky with the M1 motorway so close to the premises and the issue of noise pollution.

The Australian Government operates a three tiered film incentive programme. The Producer Offset encourages the work of domestic productions, whereas the Location and PDV offsets provide a 16.5% and 30% rebate for different types of expenditure respectively.

Two new film funds have been unveiled in the last few months, one for Western Australia and the other for New South Wales. These funds are designed to attract more foreign productions to the areas.

Australia’s reputation amongst international Producers is growing. Ridley Scott’s Alien Covenant was filmed in Sydney throughout last month, while the final season of HBO’s The Leftovers was shot in Victoria.

Thor: Ragnarok is scheduled for release November 3^rd 2016 in North America.