MARVEL TO THE RESCUE
Acting Mayor Donna Gates this week reflected on her shocker at the Pro-Am last year with the world’s now 13th-ranked player
“I played so poorly this year I declined the opportunity”. So at Wednesday’s Pro-Am, the honour of playing with Masters winner went to tourism boss
“It took me three shots — or two good shots — just to get to where his driver landed,” The Don said.
Marc Leishman: Garcia Paul Donovan. Sergio
sally.coates@news.com.au ryan.keen@news.com.au suzanne.simonot@news.com.au hannah.sbeghen@news.com.au MOVIE industry insiders say Marvel Studios is the mystery buyer locked in negotiations to buy the 154 hectare parcel of land at Oxenford being sold off by Village Roadshow.
Village Roadshow hopes to close a deal for the sale in the next three months and raise at least $100 million to cut debt.
The site, home to Movie World, Wet’n’Wild, Australian Outback Spectacular, Paradise Country and Village Roadshow Studios, was placed on the market in September. The company has an agreement with the buyer to lease back the land for 30 years, paying $6.2 million in annual rent, if the sale goes through.
Insiders say Marvel Studios, which filmed Chris Hemsworth’s box-office smash Thor: Ragnarok on the Oxenford lot last year, wants to return to the Coast to film at least two more features after the Commonwealth Games.
The Oxenford studio facilities are being handed over to GOLDOC to be used as the venue for boxing, squash and table tennis competitions during the 2018 Gold Coast Games. The filmmaking facilities will reopen in May, with both Marvel and rivals DC Comics, co-producers of Aquaman, eager to return here to film more blockbusters.
Marvel Studios is a subsidiary of Walt Disney Studios, where it develops and produces a shared universe that has continuity with shows produced by its TV unit.
Movies Marvel could film on the Coast include Luke Cage, SubMariner – tipped to blow Aquaman out of the water – and stand-alone films about Samuel L. Jackson’s Avengers character Nick Fury and Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow.
If Marvel or parent company Disney acquires the land, insiders say the deal could include a firstoption – if not an exclusive option – to use the studios.
Marvel producer Brad Winderbaum says he’d love to make another movie here after Thor: Ragnarok’s success.
“I’m definitely an advocate for it. Personally I would make another film here in a heartbeat,” he told Screen Australia.