The latest Hollywood film attracted down under through the Australian Government's Location Incentive will create more than 400 jobs for local cast and crew.
Production of Ricky Stanicky will commence in Victoria in February and is expected to inject more than $70 million into the Australian economy, with $9.5 million in support from the Australian Government's Location Incentive along with support from the Victorian Government's Victorian Screen Incentive.
The feature comedy follows three childhood friends who create a fictitious character to get them out of sticky situations. When their partners become suspicious, they're forced to hire a washed-up actor to bring him to life with dire, yet hilarious consequences.
Oscar-winning director Peter Farrelly is helming Ricky Stanicky which stars John Cena and Zac Efron. Oscar-winning Australian producer, Paul Currie, renowned international sales agent and producer, Thorsten Schumacher, and comedy producer John Jacobs are teaming up to produce the film in Melbourne.
Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, said experienced and emerging screen workers continue to benefit from the Australian Government's support.
"Bringing productions like this to Victoria means more Australian jobs and a chance to showcase more Australian creativity to the world," Minister Burke said.
"It's great another international production has chosen to call Australia home."
Victoria's Minister for Creative Industries, Steve Dimopoulos, said the production strengthens Victoria's reputation as a global screen leader.
"We're backing our screen industry by attracting more of the best productions to Victoria, creating new job opportunities and career pathways for talent, crew, and production, while supporting local businesses across the state."
"This production will once again showcase the state as a global screen leader, sending a clear message to the rest of the world that Victoria is the place to be."
Director Peter Farrelly said, "I can't tell you how happy I am to be back in Australia-and, specifically, in Melbourne, where I spent my honeymoon 26 years ago. And to finally get to make the movie that I've been trying to make for ten years, it's all just a dream come true. I'm very grateful to Paul Currie, Thorsten Schumacher, and Ministers Burke and Dimopoulos for making this a reality."
Producer Paul Currie noted, "Ricky Stanicky gives our local cast and crew another fantastic opportunity to showcase their incredible skills and talents working with renowned director, Peter Farrelly, who has a history of making some of the most iconic comedies of all time."
To date, $421.2 million has been committed under the Location Incentive, to attract 37 international productions to Australia. This will generate more than $3.16 billion in private investment, providing more than 23,200 employment opportunities for local cast and crew, and creating work for over 22,700 businesses that support these big productions.
