Mortal Kombat 2 to film in Queensland after SA-made predecessor injected $70m into the state’s economy
The Mortal Kombat sequel may be headed to Queensland but SA’s film industry is still gearing up to reap future benefits.
SA News
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Training and retaining future film crew members will be key to South Australia’s success in securing major international productions, according to industry leaders.
SA Film Corporation chief executive Kate Croser said it had spent the past year working with the state’s industry leaders to create a united Workforce Development Strategy.
It comes as the producers of Mortal Kombat 2 decided to film the sequel in Queensland, despite the success of its SA-made predecessor which injected an estimated $70m into the state’s economy.
“To further grow the industry here, we need to have a plan to get new people in, keep those people once they’re here, and skill up our crews so they are ready to do large-scale and international productions,” Ms Croser said.
When the previous Mortal Kombat film began production at Adelaide Studios in 2019, SA was the only state to offer an additional 10 per cent PDV (post production, digital and visual effects) offset, on top of the Australian Government’s 30 per cent PDV rebate.
Most other states’ film bodies have now matched that offer, and all offer similar incentive packages.
“Our incentives … are about on par with what’s offered in other parts of the country,” Ms Croser said.
The federal government has also increased its location incentive in the latest Budget, almost doubling it to 30 per cent from July 1.
Financial incentives were just one factor in producers’ decisions where to film, with studio infrastructure and workforce availability being equally important, Ms Croser said.
Mortal Kombat used locations including Cooper Pedy, Leigh Creek and Mount Crawford to create its fictional settings of Earthrealm and Outworld.
However, as some of those places were destroyed in the original film, Mortal Kombat 2 is expected to require different types of locations.
“For example, if you want to do snow or tropical, you are probably not going to film in SA,” Ms Croser said.
Despite opening during the Covid-19 pandemic in April 2021, Mortal Kombat made $US42m (around $55m) in America and the same amount internationally, for a worldwide box office total of $110m.
The SA industry will still reap some benefits from the new Queensland film, including post-production work.
Adelaide based Heesom Casting, which provided Australian cast for the first movie, is believed to also be working on the sequel.
Rising Sun Pictures president Jennie Zeiher said it was the lead visual effects vendor on the previous Mortal Kombat film and “had a great time working with the team”.
“We are currently in discussions with the filmmakers, and we hope to be working on Mortal Kombat 2,” Ms Zeiher said.
The SA screen industry Workforce Development Strategy, which was released in April, identified roles and gaps across production, post-production, animation, and game development.
It also forecast future workforce demand, the skills and proficiencies which would be needed, and evaluated current training and education programs.
Originally published as Mortal Kombat 2 to film in Queensland after SA-made predecessor injected $70m into the state’s economy
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