The New Aquaman Movie Will Be Filmed On the Gold Coast
Move over Wet 'n' Wild, there's a new watery attraction in town.
Australian superhero fans, your must-see movies over the next few years are going to look very familiar. You won't just spot parts of the Gold Coast and Brisbane in Marvel's Thor: Ragnarok, which is due in cinemas in October 2017 — come 2018, DC Comics' Aquaman will also boast plenty of Queensland scenery.
What's good for a a hammer-wielding god is good for a water-dwelling hero, it seems (and, given that the Gold Coast has plenty of water parks, it certainly appears to be a great fit). Aquaman will start shooting in early 2017 at Village Roadshow Studios on the Gold Coast and on location in south-east Queensland. As well as starring Game of Thrones' star and Port Adelaide AFL supporter Jason Momoa, Amber Heard (who we're guessing won't bring any pet pooches with her), Patrick Wilson and Willem Dafoe, it'll mark the homecoming of Saw, Insidious, The Conjuring and Fast & Furious 7 director James Wan.
"This is another huge win for our local industry and testament to the international reputation of our people," said Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. The Federal Government pledged to provide $22 million in tax breaks to entice the production to come to Australia.
Indeed, it's shaping up to be a busy time for the local industry, with the just-renamed Pacific Rim: Uprising also resuming filming early in 2017, and the likes of Kong: Skull Island, The Shallows and San Andreas shooting on the Gold Coast in recent years. It's also a great time to be a comic book movie lover in Queensland. After trying to spot Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston running around Brisbane in 2016, superhero aficionados can explore all things Marvel at the Gallery of Modern Art's upcoming Marvel: Creating the Cinematic Universe exhibition come April, and then attempt to catch a glimpse of the next effort in the DC realm.