In a boon for the local film industry, Legendary Pictures/Waner Brothers announce some new plans. In conjunction with the Queensland state government, the sequel to the 2021 blockbuster Godzilla vs Kong is set to be filmed. This is the fifth film in their ongoing Monsterverse cinematic universe. It is being filmed in Queensland later this year.

State Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk confirms the Godzilla vs. Kong sequel is shooting on the Gold Coast; as well as areas in the state’s South-East. The news comes via an announcement from the government agency Screen Queensland. It marks the third collaboration between the studios and Screen Queensland. Its predecessor is also shot there, and part of 2017’s Kong Skull Island. The Premier had this to say:

“The production is expected to inject more than double the $36.5 million that Godzilla Vs Kong brought to the state and is a welcome boost to our economy as we recover from the impacts of the global pandemic and southeast Queensland flooding events. These types of productions benefit our screen industry, deliver local jobs and provide a welcome boost to our small businesses and communities in and around our production sites.”

What To Expect

Details this far out (in terms of what we can expect to see in the sequel) are fairly vague. However, Adam Wingard – who helmed the last instalment – tells Deadline he would love to continue with the franchise going forward. He even expresses some potential plot points for this new film to explore, picking up threads established in Godzilla vs. Kong.

“The clear starting point we teed up (in GVK), exploring Hollow Earth, I think there is a lot more to do there. This is a pre-history of Planet Earth, where all the titans come from. We tee up some mystery in this film, things I want to see resolved and explored and pushed to the next level.”

Economic Boosts & Job Creation

Screen Queensland reports that the film will deliver a $79.2 million boost to the local economy. It also aims to create 505 jobs for local cast and crew. It has the potential for 750 extras to also be a part of the production. Producer Eric McLeod comments that,

“The highly skilled crews, first-rate facilities, and unique locations make filming in Australia a great experience. The Federal government’s support has always been critical to our success in achieving a high level of filmmaking and an unparalleled audience experience.”

Since the inception of the Production Attraction Strategy in 2015, Screen Queensland has managed to form relationships with some big studios and played host to many productions, such as NBC series Young Rock, Peacock’s Joe Vs Carole, Ron Howard’s MGM feature Thirteen Lives, Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis, Netflix’s Spiderhead and Universal’s George Clooney/Julia Roberts romcom Ticket To Paradise. Currently filming are Disney+ Nautilus and season two of Tim Minchin’s Foxtel series Upright.

Subscribe to FIB’s Weekly Breaking News Report for your weekly dose of music, fashion and pop culture news!