Hollywood stars film next week
FILMING for one of 2013's Hollywood blockbusters is due to begin in Ipswich next week, The Queensland Times can reveal.
Heart-throb Colin Firth, together with Swedish icon Stellan Skarsgard and War Horse star Jeremy Irvine will be on location at the city's railway workshops from the middle of the week, according to the film's publicist Tracey Mair.
But Ms Mair said that Aussie screen legend Nicole Kidman would not joining her male co-stars in the city, after having previously said all the leads would be travelling to Ipswich.
"Kidman's scenes were actually completed in Scotland, the UK and Thailand, but the rest of the cast, including Firth, will be filming on the Gold Coast and in Ipswich mid-next week," Ms Mair said.
Since The Queensland Times first revealed The Railway Man would be filmed in Ipswich, a major online news site dubbed the city an "unlikely location" for the filming of a major movie.
Nonetheless, Firth, perhaps best known for his roles in Bridget Jones' Diary, The King's Speech, Mamma Mia! and Pride and Prejudice, will visit Ipswich.
Co-star Skarsgard is another big name, who has most recently starred in The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo and The Avengers.
A Screen Queensland spokesperson said Queensland was always a popular area for filming in Australia.
"Queensland is always popular for filming in Australia, and the local councils are extremely supportive of film activity throughout the state," they said.
"South-east Queensland in particular is renowned for its amazing locations and state-of-the-art facilities."
The spokesperson said The Railway Man "is shooting on the Gold Coast, including the Numinbah Valley..."
