Western Sydney could soon be home to the state’s second major film studio, as New South Wales fights to win back its status as the leader of Australian screen production.
The Minns government is seeking expressions of interest for investment in the Greater Sydney site, which would need a minimum of six sound stages.
“We’re looking to the future here; we really want to invest further in what’s possible with our screen sector,” Arts Minister John Graham said.
The Fall Guy, starring Ryan Gosling (right), is among the films shot at the Disney Studios in Sydney. (Supplied: Universal Pictures Australia)
The state’s film production expenditure fell by 51 per cent in 2024/25, totalling $832 million, according to Screen Australia.
Queensland topped expenditure in the same period, growing by 16 per cent and leading the country at $925 million.
Local industry leaders said they were desperate for an alternative to Disney Studios at Moore Park, which has in recent years been host to Hollywood blockbusters including The Fall Guy and films from the Marvel universe.
Last Cab to Darwin director Jeremy Sims said international productions had left little space for local films and TV shows to be produced.
Jeremy Sims says the industry wants to be able to produce content that is at the lower to middle end of the budget. (ABC News)
He said he had been forced to film productions in warehouses near noisy train stations and under flight paths due to Sydney’s lack of studio space.
“They’re [international productions are] great for crews, it means all the Australian crews are the best in the world,” he said.
“But we want to get television shows up here that are at the lower to middle end of the budget — high concept, high quality — but don’t cost as much as some of the bigger international shows.”
Australian Writers’ Guild executive director Claire Pullen said a second studio would ensure a steady flow of work for the local industry to survive.
“We need to make sure we have a pipeline for talent, not just in writing but in directing, editing and every part of the industry that there’s work,” she said.
“This will help us balance the industry between big budget foreign productions and smaller local productions people love to see.”
Claire Pullen says a second studio would ensure there is “a pipeline for talent”. (ABC News: Berge Breiland)
Western Sydney on the world stage
The Minns government has earmarked three government-owned sites in Western Sydney as potential locations for the studio — Bungarribee, Eastern Creek and Prospect.
It had previously announced the second studio would need to be within a 35-kilometre radius of the CBD but scrapped that requirement on Sunday.
Mr Graham said he wanted “all bids on the table”.
Business Western Sydney executive director David Borger said travel times between a CBD and studio location had not been a hindrance for film productions in other countries.
David Borger says it would be great if the next Mad Max movie was made in Western Sydney. (Supplied: Warner Bros. Pictures)
He noted the UK’s Pinewood Studios, host to the Bourne and Harry Potter film franchises, was close to an hours drive from London’s CBD.
“It’d be great to see the next Mad Max made in Western Sydney,” Mr Borger said.
“And if there is an interest in trying to make Bollywood in Western Sydney, there is a connection there with our big Indian diaspora here as well.”