Chris Hemsworth reveals why new Thor blockbuster shot in Sydney was a ‘family affair’

Aussie stars who scored a seat at the Sydney premiere of Thor: Love and Thunder scrubbed up nicely alongside superhero star Chris Hemsworth and his family. See all the red carpet pictures.

Chris Hemsworth’s 10-year-old daughter takes a starring role in his new Thor blockbuster.

India Rose Hemsworth will be seen alongside a bunch of famous offspring from Thor: Love and Thunder’s big name stars, including the children of Christian Bale, Natalie Portman and director Taika Waititi.

“It was a family affair. We all have children and they were all on set and we thought, why not put them on camera as well, because they are making a lot of noise behind the camera,” father of three Hemsworth told The Daily Telegraph ahead of walking the red carpet for the film’s Australian premiere at Entertainment Quarter in Moore Park on Monday night.

“Any time you become a little over self-important about what it is you are doing, the kids like to dramatically pull that back to earth. It is a great reminder that it should be fun and entertaining and have a laugh.”

Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky with their children on the red carpet of the Australian premiere of Thor: Love and Thunder. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Director and co-star Taika Waititi also attended the premiere with his kids. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Hemsworth returns as the title character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film that also stars Chris Pratt, Tessa Thompson, Russell Crowe, Matt Damon and Melissa McCarthy.

It was shot in Sydney through the pandemic and opens in cinemas on July 6.

David Campbell with his children Leo, Billy and Betty. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Tim Robards and Anna Heinrich on the red carpet. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“It is cool because the first time my kids saw Thor, they were impressed for a minute and then it became very normal and very boring, and then it became something that I was being taken off to and taken away from them for,” the actor said.

“And so to be able to bring them to set and have them be a part of it … I think they had a different appreciation and sense of fun and adventure for it as well.

“It certainly helped filming here in Australia in Sydney so it wasn’t too far to pull them in and out of school to come say hello.”

Waititi revealed that the kids were also involved behind the scenes.

Jessica Rowe with her daughters Allegra and Giselle. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Kerri-Anne Kennerley also attended at the premiere. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Home and Away’s Ethan Browne on the red carpet. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Home and Away stars Luke Van Os, Jacqui Purvis and Matt Evans.

“We haven’t told many people this, all of the monsters in the film are designed by the kids,” he said.

There is also more than a subtle nod to Australian directing great, George Miller, who is currently working with Hemsworth on the new Mad Max film, Furiosa.

“There is a big nod,” Waititi said.

“I love him, he is one of my all-time favourite directors. For someone to be able to go from Mad Max to Happy Feet, Witches of Eastwick to Babe, then back to Fury Road, he is so unpredictable and he is able to do everything. It is for me the ideal when it comes to being a director.”

Taika Waititi at the Thor: Love and Thunder World Premiere at the El Capitan Theatre in LA. Picture: Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Disney

Like its predecessor, Thor Ragnorak, the new film continues Waititi’s mission to represent a variety of different indigenous cultures and minorities in one of our oldest forms of popular culture storytelling, comic books.

“It is 2022 and still we are having this conversation, which is just insane,” Waititi said.

“All I want is to get to a place where it doesn’t have to be weird or different. The good thing about doing it in these films, it is mainstream movies where we get to see this and it is normalised and I think that is what is cool.

“Way more people are going to see that and will get to understand that it is fine.”

Sydney has been the backdrop for a number of film premieres recently, including Hemsworth’s wife Elsa Pataky’s Netflix movie Interceptor and Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis biopic which was shot on the Gold Coast.