Thor: Ragnarok and Ridley Scott's untitled Alien project will be filmed in Australia from 2016.
The two major US productions are expected to bring more than $300 million in offshore investment to Australia’s economy, provide over 3,000 jobs and use the services of thousands of Australian businesses.
Thor: Ragnarok is from Marvel (owned by The Walt Disney Company), while the next Alien project is by 20th Century Fox.
The Australian government will invest $47.25 million to attract both features to Australia.
The decision to film Thor: Ragnarok in Australia follows The Walt Disney Company’s experience earlier this year working with Australian film crews, with the support of the Australian Government and Queensland state government through Screen Queensland on Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.
Australia hosted physical production for Truth (starring Cate Blanchett and Robert Redford) and the NBCU-owned Universal Cable Productions mini-series Childhood’s End (premiering in the US on the Syfy channel December 14).
Some international productions that completed visual effects and post-production in the past year in Australia include Avengers: Age of Ultron,Pan, Ant-Man, Tarzan, Our Brand is Crisis, The Age of Adaline and The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water.
Ausfilm chief executive, Debra Richards, said the production would inject hundres of millions of dollars into the economy.
"Productions of this size also contribute to generating skills and training of Australia’s crews and represent a major development and investment opportunity for creative talent both in front of and behind the camera,” she said.
Foreign Affairs minister, Julie Bishop, said Australia’s creative industries were well placed to take advantage of a growing global economy.
"I have been actively promoting Australia for the production of major international films,” she said.
“Our high quality facilities, leading industry experts, outstanding creative talent and diverse landscapes have given us an exceptional reputation as a world-class destination."
Arts minister, Mitch Fifield said the announcement confirmed Australia’s place as one of the world’s best filming locations.
"Australian crews and actors will also gain the skills and experience to further strengthen our capacity to produce high-quality films for Australian and international audiences,” he said.
“We are delighted to secure these two high profile international films that will support economic growth and innovation in Australia’s world-leading local production industry,” Minister Fifield said.