Melbourne’s streets have been recast as a high-octane film set as production continues on Empire City, a new action feature led by Gerard Butler, with filming underway across several of the city’s most recognisable locations.
The film, which began shooting in November, has transformed parts of Docklands Studios Melbourne, Abbotsford, Brooklyn, Fitzroy, Melbourne Town Hall and the Royal Exhibition Building, adding another major title to Victoria’s growing slate of international productions.
Minister for Creative Industries Colin Brooks visited the set this week, meeting Butler and co-star Hayley Atwell, along with Victorian producer Paul Currie. The visit highlighted the scale of the production and its economic footprint at a time when the state’s screen sector is already busy.
Empire City is employing 1,225 people across its 10-week shoot, including 510 local crew roles and more than 700 jobs for Victorian actors and extras. Around 600 local businesses are involved, with the production expected to inject more than $35 million into the state economy.
Brooks said the project reflected Victoria’s appeal to global studios. “Empire City is the latest in a string of international screen productions choosing Victoria—thanks to the strength of our local talent, skilled crew, incredible locations and leading-edge facilities,” he said. “These productions create local jobs, showcase incredible locations and keep our industry pumping with the support of countless local businesses.”
The film is produced by Marc Butan, Alan Siegel and Currie, and directed by Michael Matthews from a script by Brian Tucker and S. Craig Zahler. Butler, a familiar face in large-scale action cinema, is joined by Atwell, whose recent credits include Mission Impossible and Captain America.
Butan said the decision to film in Victoria came quickly. “From the moment I arrived in Melbourne and met with the team at VicScreen, I knew it was the perfect place to make a film,” he said.
Currie echoed that view, pointing to the depth of local capability. “The state’s artists, technicians, and facilities are second to none, and together we’re crafting a film that pushes the boundaries of commercial storytelling that hopefully connects with audiences everywhere,” he said.
Empire City follows a strong year for screen production in Victoria. In 2025, the state hosted projects including the Liam Neeson action feature The Mongoose, horror sequel Insidious 6, TV drama The Dispatcher, the football biopic The Untitled John Tuggle Project and World War II thriller Play Dead.
Local productions have also remained active, with children’s series Knee High Spies and television titles Goolagong, Dog Park and High Country season 2 contributing to a steady pipeline of work. High Country is set to return to filming later this month.
Across the year, Victorian-based screen productions collectively injected more than $150 million into the economy, reinforcing the sector’s role as a steady employer and a drawcard for related industries such as hospitality, transport and construction services.
Empire City was secured through VicScreen’s Victorian Screen Incentive, with additional backing from the Australian Government’s Location Offset. The project aligns with the state’s Creative State 2028 strategy, which aims to strengthen Victoria’s position as a global screen destination through sustained investment and a reliable flow of productions.
As cameras continue to roll across Melbourne, the presence of a large international film crew is a visible reminder of how global screen projects intersect with local streets, local workers and local businesses, turning familiar places into temporary backdrops for stories destined for audiences well beyond Victoria.
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