Victoria has secured another international blockbuster production, with filming on the new Gerard Butler action thriller Empire City set to start this month, backed by the Allan Labor Government.
Minister for Creative Industries, Colin Brooks today announced the latest screen coup for the state, which will create hundreds of jobs and provide another major boost for the state's screen industry.
Led by local producer Paul Currie (Hacksaw Ridge, Better Man), the production will film at locations across Melbourne. Filming will also take place at Docklands Studios Melbourne.
The production will create 350 jobs for the crew and 860 roles for the cast, casuals, and extras, as well as engaging 600 local businesses. It is expected to inject more than $35 million into the Victorian economy.
In Empire City, when a hostage crisis erupts inside New York's landmark Clybourn Building, firefighter Rhett (Butler), his squad, and his NYPD wife Dani, must fight and navigate their way through the building to rescue the captives.
Empire City stars international screen superstar Gerard Butler, whose films include Plane, Den of Thieves and the Has Fallen trilogy. It also stars Hayley Atwell of the last two Mission: Impossible films and the Captain America franchise.
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 directed by Michael Matthews (Love and Monsters), from a script by Brian Tucker (Secret Invasion), and S. Craig Zahler (Bone Tomahawk).
Butler also starred in How to Train Your Dragon, which featured the work of Melbourne animation and visual effects studio, Framestore. How To Train Your Dragon injected over $10.5 million into the Victorian economy and generated 115 jobs in animation and visual effects for Victoria's skilled screen practitioners.
Empire City is the latest international project to film in Victoria this year, following horror movie Insidious 6, psychological drama The Dispatcher, football biopic The Untitled John Tuggle Project, World War II thriller Play Dead and Liam Neeson action feature The Mongoose.
The Labor Government's VICSCREEN strategy created more than 46,000 local jobs, engaged more than 17,000 Victorian businesses and generated $1.7 billion in direct economic expenditure in Victoria - securing the state's reputation as a global destination for screen production.
Empire City was attracted to the state through the Victorian Screen Rebate and also received support from the Australian Government's Location Offset.
As stated by Minister for Creative Industries Colin Brooks
"Victoria has the skills, talent and infrastructure to attract and bring to life major screen productions."
"Projects like Empire City engage local businesses, create local screen industry jobs, and fuel our economy."
As stated by VicScreen CEO Caroline Pitcher
"Visionaries like Paul Currie bring major productions to the state, enabling Victorian screen workers to advance their craft and supporting hundreds of 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."
