The reason Ryan Gosling is heading Down Under revealed

Heart-throb Ryan Gosling is bringing his talents to Sydney and rural NSW this year, with a nostalgia-fuelled new project drawing the star Down Under.

Top Hollywood actor Ryan Gosling will call Sydney home this year as he heads Down Under to shoot a big screen version of hit 80s TV series, The Fall Guy.

Gosling, who has two children with starlet Eva Mendes, will play the lead in the live action film that is tipped to inject some $244 million into the Australian economy.

It is yet another major studio production basing itself in Australia, with the local film industry benefiting greatly through the global pandemic from a strong stance on Covid.

The production will receive $30 million grant as part of the federal government’s Location Incentive Program and is expected to shoot in Sydney and rural NSW. A further nearly $15 million has been committed by the NSW government.

“We are pleased to welcome The Fall Guy down under with $30 million in support from our highly successful Location Incentive, with the production to employ over 1000 Australian cast and crew, and more than 3015 Australian extras,” Communications Minister Paul Fletcher said.

Hollywood star Ryan Gosling is coming Down Under for a large-budget production supported by the Australian government. Picture: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

“Through the Morrison Government’s investment in large-budget production, we are delivering more jobs, a strong economy and a stronger future for Australians.”

The Fall Guy is a Universal studio production from the same team that brought Julia Roberts and George Clooney to Queensland to shoot Ticket To Paradise last year.

It is based on the television series that was created by Glen A. Larson (Battlestar Galactica, Magnum P.I.) originally ran from 1981 to 1986 and starred Lee Majors as Colt Seavers, Douglass Barr as Howie ‘Kid’ Munson and Heather Thomas as Jody Banks.

The series was based around the story of Hollywood stunt man, Seavers, who has a side hustle as a bounty hunter.

The film has been several years in the making with a 2020 report tipping David Leitch of Deadpool, John Wick and Fast & Furious fame to direct.

As far back as a decade ago, it was suggested Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson would play the lead.

Actor Lee Majors starred in the original The Fall Guy series in the 1980s.

Gosling will carry the torch forward, cast as stunt man turned bounty hunter Colt Seavers. Picture: Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images

Production is slated to start in spring.

“After a successful partnership on the studio’s production of Ticket to Paradise in Queensland, Universal is thrilled to return to Australia and base in New South Wales for the highly-anticipated film, The Fall Guy,” Universal Pictures’ Jeff LaPlante said. “The filmmakers and the Universal team are looking forward to working alongside the talented local crews to make this project a reality.”

NSW Minister for the Arts Ben Franklin said NSW was a highly sought-after destination for filming.

“From its sandy coastlines to its vast outback and vibrant cities, Sydney and New South Wales has everything a filmmaker needs to transport the audience to another world,” Mr Franklin said.

“New South Wales has the most talented film experts in the country for these productions, and I am so proud we have secured The Fall Guy with up to $14.5 million in support through our $175 million Made in NSW fund and in partnership with the Morrison Government, which will boost our local economy by creating jobs and supporting local businesses.”