Chris Hemsworth Is Finally Filming ‘Extraction 3’ in the One Place the Franchise Always Wanted
Some productions take unexpected detours before finally landing where they were always meant to be. For Netflix’s high-octane ‘Extraction’ franchise, that detour has lasted years, and it’s finally coming to an end in the most fitting way possible.
New set photos have surfaced showing Chris Hemsworth filming scenes for ‘Extraction 3’ at Sydney’s Avalon Beach, confirming that production is now well underway on Australian soil. Hemsworth himself confirmed the shoot had officially begun back in July, sharing a behind-the-scenes photo alongside co-star Idris Elba and returning director Sam Hargrave, captioned simply “E3 here we go!”
That Australian setting carries real significance for the franchise, given how long it’s actually been trying to get there. ‘Extraction 2’ was originally supposed to begin filming in Sydney back in September 2021, only for COVID-19 restrictions to force the production to relocate overseas, with principal photography instead taking place in Prague before additional filming shifted to Vienna.
With ‘Extraction 3’ now shooting across Sydney and the New South Wales South Coast, Hargrave and Hemsworth are finally getting the Australian-based production they’d been chasing since that original 2021 attempt. Given that Hemsworth himself is Australian, the timing makes this shoot feel like something of a genuine homecoming for the franchise’s lead star.
Hargrave, who has directed all three films in the series, expressed his enthusiasm for finally bringing the production to New South Wales in a press release. “We’re very much looking forward to filming the third chapter in our Extraction saga here in New South Wales,” Hargrave said, as reported by Variety. “Our goal has always been to push the boundaries of action filmmaking, and with Extraction 3, we’re taking our biggest swing yet.”
Hemsworth returns once again as black-ops mercenary Tyler Rake, reprising a role he’s carried since the franchise’s 2020 debut. Idris Elba and Golshifteh Farahani are also back, continuing storylines set up in ‘Extraction 2,’ which ended with Tyler and an ally being broken out of prison by Elba’s mysterious operative character, Alcott.
That cliffhanger appears set to pull Rake into a considerably larger mission this time around, with reports indicating the story will span not just Australia, but also India, Thailand, and Prague, tying together locations from across the franchise’s entire history. David Weil, known for his writing work on “Citadel” and “Tyrant,” penned the screenplay for this third installment.
Beyond the story itself, ‘Extraction 3’s’ production has become a significant economic event for New South Wales. The shoot is expected to create roughly 450 local jobs and inject an estimated $127 million into the state’s economy, supported by the Australian Government’s Location Offset and the Made in NSW Fund, which is administered by Screen NSW.
NSW Minister for the Arts John Graham welcomed the production and its cast, while Netflix’s APAC Director of Production Policy, Debra Richards, emphasized how important continued government support remains for strengthening Australia’s broader film industry and building sustainable career pathways for local crews.
Since its 2020 debut, ‘Extraction’ has become one of Netflix’s most successful action franchises, built on Hargrave’s signature style of muscular stunt work, extended single-take action sequences, and a camera that follows Rake through every explosive set piece imaginable. Both prior films landed on Netflix’s most popular English-language film lists, cementing the series as a reliable global hit for the streamer.
With filming expected to continue through early October and a targeted release sometime in late summer or fall 2027, fans still have a considerable wait ahead. Given Hargrave’s promise of an even bigger action spectacle this time around, though, the extended production timeline in Rake’s most personally significant location yet feels like it could be worth the wait.
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