Premier Nathan Rees announced on April 16 that the new big-budget Hollywood film Green Lantern will be shot in NSW, creating around 500 jobs and providing a major boost for the economy.
Green Lantern will be produced by DC Comics and Warner Bros. with Director Martin Campbell (Casino Royale), Producer Donald Deline (Guardians of Ga’Hoole, The Italian Job) and Executive Producer Herb Gains (Watchmen).
"Bringing Green Lantern to NSW is a major coup,” Mr Rees said.
“The NSW Government has worked closely with Warner Bros. to ensure that it chose our State as the location for this big budget production.”
Following the recent NSW Job Summit, the Government announced a new package of screen industry incentives that would ensure NSW was the most attractive destination in Australia for major film projects.
Green Lantern will shoot at Fox Studios in Sydney with a substantial investment in digital effects work – creating jobs for our highly-skilled creative workforce.
The production is expected to employ 500 people at any given time, including 100 performers, 200 crew and thousands of extras.
The recent high-profile international release of X-Men Origins: Wolverine, filmed in Sydney last year, and the major animation productions Happy Feet 2 and Guardians of Ga’Hoole, currently in production in Sydney, have once again highlighted NSW as a first-class production destination.
The decision to film Green Lantern here will further strengthen the State’s leadership in the film production industry both domestically and internationally.
Minister for State Development Ian Macdonald said: "Securing this major Hollywood film is a real coup, it will drive jobs in the sector and it’s also an acknowledgment of the current skills and expertise of our industry."
Chief Executive of Fox Studios Australia, Nancy Romano, said: “The decision by Warner Bros. to locate the production in New South Wales is tangible evidence that having a competitive incentive scheme in place returns positive results.”
“Warner Bros. has been a major supporter of NSW in past years and it is wonderful news that the State Government has embraced the opportunity to bring this major international production to Sydney and NSW.”