Filming of Hollywood action thriller Empire City will start in Melbourne this month, after producers looked at locations around the world and landed on the Victorian capital.

Despite the trams and gum trees, Melbourne can transform into other places easily, according to location scouts. Empire City is set in New York, so this time Melbourne will morph into the Big Apple onscreen.

The film stars Gerard Butler and is billed as a contemporary kidnap film in the vein of Die Hard.

The plot involves a hostage crisis inside a landmark New York building, requiring firefighter Rhett – played by Butler, known for Plane , Den of Thieves and the Has Fallen trilogy – and his squad to navigate their way through the building to rescue the captives. Also on hand is his police officer wife,

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