The 'Original' Hemsworth Brother Gets in on the Act Promoting Australia Tourism

Tourism Australia has recruited yet another Hemsworth brother—this one dubbed “the original Hemsworth”—for a behind-the-scenes look at a fake movie that “almost took the world by storm.” It’s a commercial for a faux backlot tour of a big-screen feature that never happened. Confused? Luke Hemsworth is not. The older brother of Chris and Liam, who shares their self-deprecating sense of humor, stars in “Visit the Set of Dundee: Son of a Legend,” a series of videos offering an insider’s view of the filming locations of the Chris Hemsworth-Danny McBride buddy comedy-fish-out-of-water-action flick, “Dundee: The Son of a Legend Returns Home.” [kickout id="1"] “We’re letting people think it’s a movie set,” Luke Hemsworth told Adweek. “That’s the strength of the campaign, which is very, very clever. In truth, the Australian Outback and all these other places are about five million times better than any movie set I’ve ever been on.” Hemsworth (Westworld, Thor: Ragnarok) was talking about the gorgeous vistas in the latest spots for the government tourism board, framed as “epic” set pieces where visitors can check out cutting-edge special effects (that would be Sydney Harbour in New South Wales) and “the largest coral reef ever built for a motion picture” (the actual Great Barrier Reef in Queensland). [kickout id="2"] Make no mistake, this is not the Universal Studios tram tour, but rather “3 million square miles” of scenery, natural wonders, local folks and other “props.” “Marvel at the incredible set design,” Hemsworth says in the spots, referring to the Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory, and wonder at how the “Dundee” filmmakers created lifelike sea creatures and imposing mountains. (Those aren’t animatronic, of course, or papier-mache). [kickout id="3"] “You can’t get this in Hollywood,” Hemsworth says as he’s stationed next to a cardboard cutout of brother Chris from “Dundee,” a brilliant marketing gag that broke during this year’s Super Bowl LII. The meta campaign from Droga5, which also featured Hugh Jackman, Paul Hogan, Isla Fisher, Russell Crowe, Ruby Rose, Margot Robbie and other famous homegrown talents, has reached more than 9 billion people and generated 14,500 news stories for an ad value of $85 million. (Total campaign budget: about $36 million). Aussie officials expect it to pump $860 million into the country’s economy by 2020. [kickout id="6"] It’s no wonder, then, that Tourism Australia would take another crack at it, launching a sequel of sorts from Australian agency Thinkerbell aimed at the U.S. market. This phase is timed for summer, the busy booking season for travel to the region. [kickout id="4"] [kickout id="5"] “It’s a genius step from a marketing point of view,” Hemsworth said. “And from a personal point of view, I was very excited to step into Chris and Hogan’s shoes.” It gave Hemsworth the first chance in some 20 years to visit the northern part of the country, where he has roots, he said. “It’s hard to stand in that place and not be awestruck by the vastness and the beauty and the serenity,” he said. “It’s alive, and it speaks directly to your heart.” The tourism agency, looking to keep the momentum going from “Dundee,” premiered a content series this spring called “Why Australia,” targeting “high-value visitors,” also known as big spenders. (The U.S. accounts for nearly $4 billion in spending there annually). It’s part of the mission for “fewer, bigger, bolder, more impactful” advertising efforts, according to the group. When she heard the Luke Hemsworth idea, CMO Lisa Ronson said she knew it was the right follow-up to “Dundee.” “There’s a strong business case behind it because of how well the first one resonated,” she said. “And that idea of Australia being one giant movie set is a funny, simple, really nice way to extend it.” Hemsworth was “a great sport” and helped shape the ads, she said, noting that his “charming persona and disarming irreverence made him a natural fit.” Tourism Australia’s Hemsworth hat trick proves that the family is definitely having a moment. Fictional brother Larry made a multi-episode appearance recently on NBC’s sitcom, The Good Place. (He’s the black sheep of the family because he’s a pediatric surgeon, not a movie star, and he’s a brunette who “barely has an eight-pack”). “He’s a lovely human,” Luke Hemsworth said of his fake sibling. “But we don’t say that name in the Hemsworth family. That, and Liam.” And while the world may be at peak Hemsworth, this is not the end, he said. “There’s plenty more Hemsworth to come,” he said, “with brothers, cousins, dogs, the pet parakeet…”

AdFreak

The 'Original' Hemsworth Brother Gets in on the Act Promoting Australia Tourism

Luke Hemsworth continues 'Dundee' Super Bowl campaign

T.L. Stanley

About

Subscriptions

Events

Publications

WORK SMARTER - LEARN, GROW AND BE INSPIRED.

Subscribe today!

T.L. Stanley