Matt Damon says he’s ‘excited to call Australia home’ as he joins cast of Thor: Love and Thunder

Hollywood superstar Matt Damon and his family touched down in Australia on Saturday and began 14 days of privately-arranged quarantine in New South Wales.

It’s been confirmed that Damon will be joining the cast of Thor: Love and Thunder – despite it being hidden from his IMDb profile.

‘I’m so excited that my family and I will be able to call Australia home for the next few months,’ Damon, 50, said of taking up Australian residency for the duration of the blockbuster’s production.

‘Australian film crews are world renowned for their professionalism and are a joy to work with so the 14 days of quarantine will be well worth it,’ he said,

Damon, who has flown in with wife Luciana Barroso and children, Isabella, 14, Gia, 12, and Stella, 10, via a private jet amid the coronavirus pandemic, added: ‘Australia definitely is the lucky country.’

The Good Will Hunting actor thanked the New South Wales and Australian Government for the ‘enormous support’ regarding his entry into the country. 

Damon had a small cameo in Thor: Ragnarok as an Asgardian actor playing Loki (Chris Hemsworth) in a play.

Unless the Asgardian actor character survived Hela and Surtur’s attacks, it would appear Damon might be taking on another role when he returns to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the new film.

The Australian production of the fourth installment in the Thor franchise was made possible by a AUD$24.1 million location incentive by the NSW and Australian Governments. 

Damon has long been a fan of Australia and has been seen out-and-about in Byron Bay with pal Chris Hemsworth numerous times over the past few years. 

In November last year, The Daily Telegraph reported that Matt and his wife Luciana snapped up a $22million mansion in the popular coastal town. 

The five bedroom property, which overlooks Wategos Beach, is regarded as one of the area’s most prestigious homes.   

With the threat of COVID-19 as a paramount consideration, the Damon family entered Australia under the direction of the NSW Government’s COVID-19 Quarantine Program over the weekend,

Dr Zac Turner, CEO of Concierge Doctors, delivering the private health and quarantine service said: ‘The family will be entirely segregated for the period of their quarantine and will participate in standardised testing and monitoring, in full compliance with current NSW Government requirements.’

The New South Wales Police will also enforce the same quarantine rules and checks on the Damons than any other returning visitors to the state. 

The Damon’s Immigration Lawyer Rebekah O’Sullivan stated that several private Australian companies assisted with the Damon family arrival and quarantine.

‘Every aspect of the Damon family’s relocation and quarantine has been privately arranged and funded, ensuring that their entry will in no way impact or reduce the number of spaces for Australians overseas waiting to return home nor create any burden to the Australian taxpayer whatsoever,’ she said. 

___ No special treatment! The Damon family will be ‘entirely segregated for the period of their quarantine’ and will follow the same strict rules by Government officials regarding coronavirus testing and lockdowns

Prime Minister of Australia, Scott Morrison, welcomed the announcement of Matt Damon this week.

‘Hollywood superstar Matt Damon joining our homegrown talent to film such a major movie in NSW is a big win creating thousands of jobs for locals. Australia’s management of COVID-19 and our Government’s tax incentives have ensured that our film industry is booming with many new jobs for actors as well electricians, carpenters, cooks, security staff, bus drivers and a massive boost for NSW.’

Other stars known to be joining the fourth Thor film are Tessa Thompson (Valkyrie), Natalie Portman (Jane Foster), and Christian Bale (villain Gorr the God Butcher). 

Thor:Love and Thunder is slated for release on May 6, 2022