Melbourne CBD transformed into Manhattan for filming of Empire City

Melbourne has been turned into New York this week as Hollywood blockbuster Empire City filming across the CBD, with entire streets transformed into scenes straight out of Manhattan – including NYPD patrol cars, New York-style traffic lights, US postal boxes and swapped-out street signage.

The action thriller, starring Gerard Butler and Hayley Atwell, has taken over multiple city blocks for late-night shoots. At around 2am on the morning of Friday, January 9, filming was under way outside the iconic Melbourne Town Hall, where our photographer Hanna Komissarova captured NYPD officers, police vehicles and extras lining Swanston St as crews recreated a classic New York hostage-crisis setting.

The production is one of the biggest international film projects to land in Victoria in recent years, backed by the state government and expected to inject more than $35 million into the local economy. More than 350 crew members, 860 cast and extras, and 600 Victorian businesses are involved, with filming also scheduled at Docklands Studios Melbourne.

Empire City, directed by Michael Matthews, follows firefighter Rhett (Butler) and his NYPD officer wife Dani as they battle through a high-rise hostage situation inside New York’s landmark Clybourn Building. Producers say Melbourne’s architecture – especially its historic CBD facades – makes it an ideal stand-in for New York’s dense midtown streets.

The transformation has been meticulous. US-style street fixtures, modified traffic lights, and period-appropriate vehicles now line parts of Collins, Swanston and Little Collins streets, giving locals the surreal experience of walking through a temporary slice of Manhattan.

Minister for Creative Industries Colin Brooks said Victoria’s growing film infrastructure and skilled workforce continue to attract large-scale productions.

“Projects like Empire City engage local businesses, create local screen industry jobs, and fuel our economy,” he said.

The film’s producers have also praised Melbourne, citing the city’s versatility and the capability of its crews.

Producer Marc Butan said he “knew it was the perfect place to make a film” after meeting with VicScreen. Local producer Paul Currie added that the state’s artists and technicians are “second to none”.