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April 2nd, 2013 
Peter Nolan 
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie might be headed down under to film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Picture: AFP PHOTO/ ROBIN BECK
Source: AFP
BRAD Pitt and Angelina Jolie may be setting up home in Australia, with Hollywood executives signing a deal to film the blockbuster remake of the sci-fi classic 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea in Australia
NSW is set to snare some of the lucrative location rights.
The federal government will today announce final agreement has been reached with Disney in a deal set to deliver the biggest blockbuster in Australia’s history.
The Daily Telegraph revealed in February that then arts minister Simon Crean had spent months trying to land the deal with Hollywood executives and was close to securing the film – estimated to generate $100 million for the local economy and create up to 2000 local jobs.
The deal is believed to have been signed only days before Mr Crean was sacked for his part in the failed coup two weeks ago.
Although casting hasn’t been confirmed, the producers are believed to have been in discussions with Pitt and director David Fincher, of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo fame.
Fincher is reported to want Pitt for the lead role – the film’s hero Ned Land.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Arts Minister Tony Burke will today announce an agreement has been signed and shooting will begin by mid-year.
A one-off grant to the producers of $21.6 million is believed to have secured the deal, with the high dollar making Australia a less attractive option.
A similar incentive was granted to Fox for the making of The Wolverine, starring Hugh Jackman, which recently wrapped filming in Sydney after creating more than 1750 jobs and contracting work to more than 1027 Australian companies.
The film is based on French novelist Jules Verne’s 1870 classic and centres on Captain Nemo and his submarine the Nautilus.
Location scouts are believed to have been secretly touring NSW and the Gold Coast.
According to sources, Disney is ready to start pre-production.
“The filming of 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea will give Australian talent the opportunity to work with some of the best screen professionals in the business, both in front of the cameras and behind the scenes,” Mr Burke told The Daily Telegraph.
“Securing of this film is a coup for the Australian film industry.”
“Through Creative Australia, the Australian Government committed a further $20 million in new funding to attract international production to Australia and a commitment to increase the rate of the Location Offset should the Australian dollar remain high.”
Source Article from http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/brangelina-head-for-australia-after-20000-leagues-under-the-sea-deal-signed/story-fn907478-1226610446088?from=public_rss
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