Hollywood superstar Chris Hemsworth arrives in Broken Hill to film the new Mad Max blockbuster

Locals in Broken Hill are going giddy for Chris Hemsworth, ahead of filming on his latest project, the new Mad Max blockbuster. Have you got a Chris selfie?

Broken Hill is abuzz thanks to the arrival of Hollywood megastar Chris Hemsworth, ahead of filming on his latest project, the new Mad Max blockbuster.

The Thor actor and his wife, Elsa Pataky, have been welcomed with open arms by starstruck locals, who have clamoured for photos with the celebrity couple at various spots around town.

The long-awaited Mad Max: Fury Road prequel, called Furiosa, will begin filming this month in Broken Hill, near the NSW-SA border, bringing with it a $350m boost to the state’s economy.

Natalie Robinson, chef at Broken Hill restaurant and cafe, The Astra, said she had to “pick her jaw up off the floor” when Hemsworth walked in for breakfast on Monday.

“He’s very tall. He was a very pleasant and kind gentleman. He’s one of the best (celebrities) I’ve ever met – very genuine,” she said. “She’s also beautiful, they’re just lovely people. Everyone is so excited to see him around town.”

Renae Schuster, manager at the Silly Goat cafe, was making a coffee when Hemsworth and wife Elsa walked in.

“I was pouring a latte and I said, ‘Hey guys, how are you?’. But I didn’t glance up, so I didn’t know it was him until he responded and I knew his voice,” she said.

“We knew he’d be coming in, but we were still a bit stunned and starstruck.”

Ms Schuster described Hemsworth as “very humble”.

Silly Goat cafe staff member Karishma Moktan with Chris Hemsworth in Broken Hill.

Silly Goat cafe staff member Rikesh Maharjan with Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky in Broken Hill.

“He hasn’t declined one photo, he was so lovely. My Facebook feed is full of him, everyone’s got a photo. All the girls are frothing over him.”

Marvel superfan Crawford Neal, 12, and his father Phil, heard Hemsworth might be having a drink at the Broken Hill pub on Monday night.

They decided to try their luck, and brought along Crawford’s “Thor hammer”, an ode to Hemsworth’s Marvel superhero character.

“He (Chris) saw Crawford and called out to him to come over. He then asked him if he always walked around with a hammer,” said Phil.

“Chris then signed the hammer and they had a quick chat. He’s very photogenic guy.”

Crawford said he was left speechless by the encounter.

“I couldn’t talk... it was the best experience of my life,” he said.

The 1979 original Mad Max was filmed in Victoria, the second instalment around Broken Hill and the third in South Australia, while Fury Road was shot in Namibia.

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Supplied Editorial Benjamin Starr meets Chris Hemsworth in Broken Hill . Picture: @benjamonstarrmedia/instagram

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Locals said locations for the new post-apocalyptic drama include Mundi Mundi Plains at nearby Silverton and the Broken Hill studios.

Crew members arrived about two weeks ago to prepare for production and Ms Schuster said the country town had come alive since.

“There’s a huge buzz going on around Broken Hill and business is booming,” she said.

“The crew is always out on the town, we’re serving about 100 new people a day and they come in three times a day.”

Anya Taylor-Joy, who played the lead role in the Netflix hit The Queen’s Gambit, will also star in the film in the title role — a younger version of Charlize Theron’s Furiosa character from 2015’s Mad Max: Fury Road. She has not yet been spotted in Broken Hill.

Have you snapped a pic with Chris or Elsa in Broken Hill? Share it in the comments below!