Victoria's screen industry is already in full swing for 2026 - with Gerard Butler's new action blockbuster transforming the streets of Melbourne and building on a stellar line-up of local and international productions filmed across the state - thanks to support from the Allan Labor Government.
Minister for Creative Industries Colin Brooks today visited the set of Empire City to meet Butler and co-star Hayley Atwell (Mission Impossible, Captain America) along with the film's Victorian producer Paul Currie (Hacksaw Ridge, Better Man).
Empire City started production in November across Melbourne including at Docklands Studios Melbourne, Abbotsford, Brooklyn, Fitzroy, Melbourne Town Hall and the Royal Exhibition Building.
The 10-week shoot is creating 1,225 jobs including 510 roles for local crew and more than 700 jobs for Victorian actors and extras. The production is engaging 600 local businesses and is expected to inject more than $35 million into the Victorian economy.
Empire City is produced by Marc Butan (Plane, The Trial of the Chicago 7), Alan Siegel (Den of Thieves, Paris Has Fallen) and Currie, and is directed by Michael Matthews (Love and Monsters) from a script by Brian Tucker (Secret Invasion), and S. Craig Zahler (Bone Tomahawk).
Last year was a huge year of screen production in Victoria, including the Liam Neeson action feature The Mongoose, horror movie Insidious 6, TV drama The Dispatcher, football biopic The Untitled John Tuggle Project and World War II thriller Play Dead.
Local productions thrived too - including children's series Knee High Spies, and TV productions Goolagong, Dog Park and High Country season 2 which commenced in late 2025 and will return to filming later this month.
Collectively these Victorian-based screen productions injected more than $150 million into the economy across the year.
Empire City was attracted to the state by the Allan Labor Government through VicScreen's Victorian Screen Incentive and also received support from the Australian Government's Location Offset.
Elevating Victoria's position as a global screen destination is a focus of the Government's recently released creative industries strategy Creative State 2028, with continued investment in VicScreen to deliver a strong pipeline of local and international productions that create jobs, generate revenue and strengthen our screen culture.
As stated by Minister for Creative Industries Colin Brooks
"Empire City is the latest in a string of international screen productions choosing Victoria - thanks to the strength of our local talent, skilled crew, incredible locations and leading-edge facilities."
"These productions create local jobs, showcase incredible locations and keep our industry pumping with the support of countless local businesses."
As stated by Empire City producer Marc Butan
"From the moment I arrived in Melbourne and met with the team at VicScreen, I knew it was the perfect place to make a film."
As stated by Empire City producer Paul Currie
"The state's artists, technicians, and facilities are second to none, and together we're crafting a film that pushes the boundaries of commercial storytelling that hopefully connects with audiences everywhere."
