Filming of a big budget movie featuring some of the world's best known superheroes may move from Australia to New Zealand after it failed to qualify for an Aussie tax break.
"Justice League of America" AKA "Justice League Mortal," which includes Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and The Flash, had been in pre-production in Sydney, where it was going to be shot by Australian George Miller, best known for "Mad Max" and "Happy Feet."
But the $200 million film's producer Barrie Osborne, who also produced Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings," told The Dominion Post the superheroes film was now on hold.
The decision had already had an impact on Wellington's Weta Workshop, which had been designing the costumes for the film. Some Weta staff had been hired specifically for the project. Osborne said it was likely some would lose their jobs.
Miller had hoped his film would qualify for Australia's Film Finance Corporation's 40 percent tax offset - meaning it would pay less tax. But to qualify a film had to have significant Australian content or be created and owned by Australians.
Osborne said Miller was still trying to get the tax break, but was seriously considering moving the production to New Zealand, or possibly to Canada or the United States.
"If George is unsuccessful in appealing to the [Australian] government, then there's two choices - you either scale back the movie in some substantial way or you find another place to do the movie that you can do for the budget."
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