State still in the picture

MARVEL’S eight-year deal with one of the country’s biggest stadiums is not expected to see the entertainment company bypass the Gold Coast for Melbourne if it films more movies in Australia.

Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium, which hosts AFL, concerts and other major sports events, will change its name to Marvel Stadium from September 1 as part of an eight-year deal with the Walt Disney Company.

The deal includes an on-site Marvel shop at the stadium and cross-marketing by the entertainment giant.

The home of superhero comic characters including Thor, Spider-Man, Hulk and Captain America, Marvel filmed its hit blockbuster Thor: Ragnarok, starring AFL fan Chris Hemsworth, at Village Roadshow Studios on the Gold Coast. Marvel also teamed up with Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art last year for the Marvel: Creating the Cinematic Universe exhibition.

A Queensland Government spokesman said Marvel’s stadium deal was not expected to see Marvel preference Melbourne over the Gold Coast if it opts to film more movies in Australia in the future.

“The State Government and Screen Queensland continue to have a strong and ongoing relationship with US production houses including Marvel,” the spokesman said.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will meet with studio chiefs when she heads to the US on a trade mission next week.

Marvel is eager to film more blockbusters down under – especially in the wake of the Federal Government’s recent decision to lift its location tax incentive from 16.5 per cent to 30 per cent. And Australia’s movie production hubs are all eager to secure them.

A Village Roadshow Studios spokesman said the Marvel deal was unlikely to impact its film and TV production arm.

“Location incentives play a greater role in helping to attract film projects,” he said.

Etihad Stadium is located in the Docklands precinct that also houses Docklands Studios – one of Australia’s top three production studios along with Fox Studios in Sydney and Village Roadshow Studios on the Gold Coast.