Hollywood Down Under: Hollywood films have injected $3BILLION into the Australian economy

George Clooney and Julia Roberts

Just last week, it was revealed that Clooney and Roberts would film rom-com Ticket to Paradise. 

The production has received $6.4million from the Australian government as part of a location incentive program.

In return, the film is expected to bring $47million to the local economy and create more than 270 jobs.

While Clooney is expected to arrive later in 2021, Roberts is already in Australia – believed to be filming political thriller Gaslit alongside Sean Penn and Joel Edgerton, which is based on the Watergate scandal.

Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Chris Pratt, Christian Bale, Matt Damon 

Marvel’s guaranteed blockbuster hit Thor: Love and Thunder has started filming in Sydney.

The movie stars some of Hollywood’s biggest stars and has created more than 2,500 jobs for local Australian talent – both in front of and behind the camera.

Hemsworth is said to be pushing hard for productions to come to Australia, and has filmed three movies back-to-back in his home country.

Idris Elba, Tilda Swinton

Elba is in New South Wales filming his new movie, Three Thousand Years of Longing, co-starring British actress Tilda Swinton

Nicole Kidman and Melissa McCarthy 

The duo teamed up to film author Liane Moriarty’s Nine Perfect Strangers in Byron Bay late last year.

The production injected $100 million into the local economy and created 1,300 casual jobs.

McCarthy extended her stay Down Under after she and producer husband, Ben Falcone, were granted $10 million from the federal government’s Local Incentive program for a separate project, God’s Favourite Idiot.

‘To have the opportunity to safely film our show in a beautiful country like Australia is a dream come true,’ the couple said in a statement.

The new Netflix commissioned series is a workplace comedy about a mid-level Tech support employee (Falcone) who finds love with his co-worker (McCarthy) at the same time he becomes the unwitting messenger of God. 

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson

The Rock’s autobiographical TV show was filmed solely in Brisbane during the Covid pandemic.

The series debuted in February to a favourable reception, receiving 88 per cent on Rotten Tomatos.

Johnson commended the Australian industry after filming wrapped, releasing a statement which read: ‘It is truly an honour to be working with such great local talent, as you guys are making this dream come true for us and as I speak for myself personally as well as my entire family… and everybody involved in helping bring this story of my life to life.’ 

Zac Efron

Efron was one of the first Hollywood stars to cease on Australia’s potential during the Covid pandemic.

Very early on in the piece Efron set up a base in Byron Bay.

He has since moved to South Australia where he’s filming a Stan original film titled Gold.

Mark Wahlberg

Wahlberg revealed last month he’d be heading to Australia in the second half of the year to film an undisclosed project in Queensland. 

‘Hopefully I’ll be able to move my family down to Australia for four to five months and make a movie on the Gold Coast and enjoy that beautiful country,’ he said of the move. 

Liam Neeson 

The Irish action star arrived in Australia in November to film Blacklight in Canberra and Melbourne.

The project will inject $43 million and create 500 jobs, according to the Federal Government.

Isla Fisher and Sacha Baron Cohen

While the couple are yet to officially sign on to any projects, the Hollywood A-Listers have enrolled their children in school in Sydney and have settled into Aussie life.

Fisher, who was born and raised in Australia, previously said she had a dream of moving to Byron Bay.

Baron Cohen, famous for his role as Borat, commended Australia for its successful handling of the Covid crisis.

‘This is one of the few countries in the world that really, the politicians stepped aside – whatever you want to think about the politicians – and said, ‘OK, let’s let the scientists run this show’,’ Baron Cohen said.

‘And it’s been amazingly affective. I really hope that it continues.’