Bacchus Marsh will ‘double’ as Afghanistan in Liam Neeson movie The Mongoose

A Hollywood producer has described Bacchus Marsh as the perfect match for Afghanistan as shooting gets underway on action man Liam Neeson’s new thriller. See all the pictures on set.

Liam Neeson on the set of The Mongoose, which is filming in Victoria. Video still: Mark Stewart

Victoria’s lure as a locations-rich hub for Hollywood film makers went to the next level with action man Liam Neeson shooting high-flying stunts in Bacchus Marsh on Wednesday.

Melbourne, outer suburbs and regional centres have doubled as the Hollywood Hills, LA’s Wiltshire Boulevard, Providence, Rhode Island, and London and Manchester, in recent Tinseltown productions.

Bacchus Marsh, a town 50km northwest of Melbourne, with farms and orchards, will serve as troubled hotspot Afghanistan in the Neeson’s action thriller, The Mongoose.

It will also replicate US states, Texas and Arkansas.

High-flying stunts have been filmed in Bacchus Marsh. Video still: Mark Stewart

A crane hoists a chopper into position on set at The Mongoose. Video still: Mark Stewart

Actor Liam Neeson, second from right, with producer Bart Rosenblatt, and Victorian politicians Colin Brooks and Michaela Settle. Video still: Mark Stewart

Neeson plays a war hero on the run, accused of a crime he didn’t commit. Video still: Mark Stewart

Al Corley, a producer on The Mongoose, said Bacchus Marsh was a perfect match for Afghanistan.

“It’s the hillside, it’s the sky, it’s rock formations in the quarries, it’s the topography,” Mr Corley said.

“That’s the great wonder of Australia. You have so many landscapes, and so many things you can shoot.”

Neeson shot action scenes, dangling from an airborne helicopter, on location near Bacchus Marsh on Monday.

The film, supported by VicScreen initiatives, will also shoot in Melbourne, Castlemaine and Bangholme, until late March. Marisa Tomei, Ving Rhames and Michael Chiklis will co-star.

The Mongoose, about a war hero on the run for a crime he didn’t commit, is Neeson’s third movie in Victoria in four years.

“Seriously, (Victoria) has the best film crews ever, I really mean that,” Neeson said. “The crews are the best I’ve ever worked with.”

Creative Industries Minister, Colin Brooks, said the production will inject $19 million into the Victorian economy, create 450 jobs, and engage 150 local businesses.

Mr Brooks said Victoria’s infrastructure, movie making facilities, crews and actors were attractive to international studios. He added: “All of that put together, as Liam might say, we have our own particular set of skills.”

Neeson’s movie credits include Schindler’s List, Take, Love Actually, and The Grey

Mr Corley said Neeson’s star power was undeniable.

“You get your script, you get your director, and if you’re lucky enough to get Liam Neeson, then you’re movie is green lit,” Mr Corley said. “That’s what he does, That’s how strong an actor he is, and how big a star he is.”

Originally published as Bacchus Marsh will ‘double’ as Afghanistan in Liam Neeson movie The Mongoose