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Thor And Alien Makers Wooed By Australia

The next films in the two franchises will be shot Down Under next year after studios were given a share of £22m.

The Australian government has given the makers of the Thor and Alien franchises millions of dollars to woo them to the country for filming.

Twentieth Century Fox, Disney and Marvel Studios have been given AU$47.25m (£22m) towards their latest pictures.

Ridley Scott will direct the Prometheus follow-up Alien: Paradise Lost and Australian actor Chris Hemsworth will reprise his role as the superhero in the third instalment of the Thor series for Disney and Marvel, Thor: Ragnarok.

While locations have not been announced, Disney recently finished shooting Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales at Gold Coast studios in Queensland state and Fox has studios in Sydney.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop defended the government spending to secure the movies, saying Australia was competing against other countries to attract movie-makers.

She said her government had wanted the Scott-directed hit The Martian to be shot Down Under instead of Hungary.

Mary Ann Hughes, Disney vice president of film and television, described shooting of the fifth instalment of Pirates of the Caribbean as a "wonderful experience".

The production had several high profile setbacks which made the headlines around the world.

Star Johnny Depp's wife, Amber Heard, was charged with illegally bringing the couple's dogs into Australia against quarantine regulations. She could face up to 10 years in prison and heavy fines if convicted.

Ms Hughes joked at a news conference that: "Since our lovely Chris Hemsworth lives in Australia, I suspect we won't have any issues with pets."

Hemsworth said in a video from Los Angeles that he was looking forward to working again in his home country.

"I look forward to introducing my Marvel friends to this beautiful country of ours," he said.

Thor: Ragnarok is scheduled for release in July 2017.

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