The Victorian screen industry has maintained its momentum into early 2026 with the production of Empire City, an action blockbuster starring Gerard Butler and Hayley Atwell, taking place in Melbourne.
The film, which commenced its ten-week shoot in November, has utilized a variety of high-profile locations across the city, including the Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne Town Hall, and Docklands Studios. Production has also extended into suburbs such as Abbotsford, Brooklyn, and Fitzroy, effectively turning the city’s streets into a large-scale film set.
The project is estimated to inject more than $35 million into the Victorian economy while engaging approximately 600 local businesses.
The production has created 1,225 jobs, providing employment for 510 local crew members and more than 700 Victorian actors and extras.
Directed by Michael Matthews and written by Brian Tucker and S. Craig Zahler, the film is produced by a team including Marc Butan, Alan Siegel, and Victorian-based producer Paul Currie.
The arrival of Empire City follows a record-breaking year for the state’s screen sector, which contributed over $150 million to the local economy in 2025.
Recent major projects include the Liam Neeson action feature The Mongoose, the horror sequel Insidious 6, and the World War II thriller Play Dead.
Local television production has also remained steady, with the second season of the drama High Country slated to resume filming later this month following its start in late 2025.
State officials secured the production through VicScreen’s Victorian Screen Incentive, supplemented by the Australian Government’s Location Offset.
The project aligns with the “Creative State 2028” strategy, a long-term initiative designed to strengthen Victoria’s position as a global filming hub.
By maintaining a continuous pipeline of international blockbusters and domestic series, the region aims to foster a sustainable screen culture while generating consistent revenue and employment for the local creative workforce.
