Academy Award® winner Angelina Jolie is set to shoot Universal Pictures’ feature film Unbroken in locations in Queensland, including Village Roadshow Studios.

Arts Minister Ian Walker said the film was attracted to Queensland under Screen Queensland’s Production Incentive program, with key factors including suitability of locations and the quality of facilities at Village Roadshow including the water tank, the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, playing a big role.

“This is great news for Queensland and the Queensland film industry,” Mr. Walker said.

“Unbroken is projected to contribute millions to the Queensland economy.  It will increase the skills and experience of local crews and talent and boost employment as well as economic benefits for wider businesses and the flow on effect for tourism.

“It’s a great opportunity on so many levels, including our chance to host a star of the calibre of Angelina Jolie and for Queensland to show what a great state it is for film production.”

Based on Laura Hillenbrand's bestselling novel, Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption, it tells the true story of Olympian and war hero Louis Zamperini who, along with two other crewmen, survived in a raft for 47 days after a near-fatal plane crash in WWII – only to be caught by the Japanese Navy and sent to a prisoner-of-war camp. 

Unbroken is Jolie’s second movie as director following In The Land Of Blood And Honey, which was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 69th Golden Globe Awards.

It stars Jack O'Connell (300: Rise of an Empire) as Louis Zamperini plus rising stars Garrett Hedlund (TRON: Legacy), Domhnall Gleeson (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) and Finn Wittrock (All My Children).

“We are thrilled to be welcoming Angelina Jolie’s film Unbroken to Queensland.  It is testament to the many unique locations and quality of crew that we have to offer,” said Jennie Hughes, COO Screen Queensland. 

“It will create a substantial amount of jobs for the film and television industry in Queensland putting the business back in show business.” 

Universal Pictures has scheduled the movie for release in the U.S. on Christmas Day 2014.