I've always felt that Pinewood Studios is part of the "Alien" franchise DNA. Although now I'm remembering that the original Alien was shot at Shepperton Studios.
I do believe Shepperton does belong to Pinewood anyway. But I do agree with you - I feel kinda sad about it because I'm a Brit and I like the Alien films (sans AvPs and AR, of course) being filmed over here.
Apparently all the blighty studios were already fully booked. I suspect Star Wars Ep VIII and Star Wars: Rogue One were two of the prime culprits.
“Ridley Scott can’t find an appropriate film studio in Britain,” Ms Bishop told The West Australian .
“They were all taken or busy, and he wants to film in Australia because of the facilities, the people and the resources we have.
More here: https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/wa/a/29749272/tax-carrot-for-alien-filmmaker/
Yeah. It wont be about rebates. I'm a working Production Manager and Assistant Director. No one care about rebates on something that size.
Scott had also wanted to film the Matt Damon blockbuster The Martian in Australia but a disagreement with the Government scuttled those plans. The movie was shot in Hungary and Jordan, where Scott secured favourable tax treatment.
Three types of refundable tax offsets worth up to 40 per cent of production costs, depending on the extent of Australian content, are available for filmmakers.
The rebates are just a tool for the Australian government to seal the deal. It may smear the final decision, for sure, and of course, rebates like this are available in the states as well, in places like Louisiana, right now, for instance. A film this size, he will get what he wants regardless of rebates. He wanted Britain, couldn't get it so he looked at Australia and they offered rebates to seal the deal, but if Australian couldn't give him what he wanted, those savings wouldn't do a damn thing. Any rebates on a film this size are just icing.
