Kirk Douglas’ “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” to be remade

SYDNEY - Agence France-Presse

The 1954 film based on the novel by Jules Verne is starring Kirk Douglas.

The remake of “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” will be filmed in Australia after the government pledged a one-off grant worth more than US$22 million, Prime Minister Julia Gillard said.

In a joint statement with Arts Minister Tony Burke, Gillard said casting decisions were still to be made and locations yet to be finalized for the movie, which is set to be the biggest production ever filmed in Australia.

“The securing of this film is a huge coup for the Australian film industry and for the near 1,000 local businesses that will be providing goods and services for the film,” Gillard and Burke said in the statement.

To secure the shooting of the film in Australia, where it is expected to create up to 2,000 jobs, the government will grant the producers a one-off payment of Aus$21.6 million (US$22.6 million).

In 2012, the government gave the makers of the Hugh Jackman movie “The Wolverine” a Aus$12.8 million incentive payment to ensure that it was made in Australia to boost the film industry.

The local film sector has struggled under the high Australian dollar which has made production of big-budget movies there more expensive than in other locations in recent years.

Reports in February suggested Brad Pitt was being sought for the lead role in the remake of the 1954 film starring Kirk Douglas and based on the novel by Jules Verne, and would bring actress Angelina Jolie and family with him Down Under.