DC Comics superhero Aquaman will fight evil in Queensland waters when filming for the Hollywood movie begins on the Gold Coast next year.

Key points: Aquaman first appeared in DC Comics in 1941

Aquaman first appeared in DC Comics in 1941 Filming for the new movie will begin in 2017

Filming for the new movie will begin in 2017 The movie is scheduled to be released in 2018

The man who can breathe underwater, swim at astounding speed and telepathically communicate with marine life, will be played by Game of Thrones star Jason Momoa.

The film, which was announced in October 2014, will also star Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe and Patrick Wilson and will be directed by James Wan, who recently directed Furious 7.

Heard will return to the Gold Coast for the first time since pleading guilty to falsifying travel documents to sneak in her pet Yorkshire terriers, Pistol and Boo.

Aquaman first appeared in DC Comics in November 1941.

In the late 1950s, he became a founding member of the Justice League of America and first appeared in a cartoon in 1967.

The new film's plot, according to the Internet Movie Data Base, has civilian Arthur Curry learning he is the heir to the ancient underwater kingdom of Atlantis.

Once he realises he is Aquaman, he must lead his people and become the superhero he was always destined to be.

Aquaman delivers jobs splash

Shooting will take place at Village Roadshow Studios at Oxenford on the Gold Coast and other parts of south-east Queensland.

It is expected to generate 600 jobs during production.

Aquaman first appeared in DC Comics in 1941 and was a founding member of the Justice League. ( Twitter )

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the sunshine state was developing a reputation as a leading destination for movie makers.

"Last financial year was Queensland's best year in terms of attracting production expenditure since 2002-03, a record year of $233 million," she said.

"This is another huge win for our local industry and testament to the international reputation of our people."

Earlier this year, Thor: Ragnarok was filmed on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane.

Ms Palaszczuk said Queensland's film production crew are the best in the industry.

"Our studios offer the biggest sound stage in the southern hemisphere and Australia's largest purpose-built water tank," she said.

$22m enticement to secure movie

The Federal Government will provide $22 million in tax breaks for the production of the film.

Treasurer Scott Morrison said the Government recognised the importance of the Australian film industry.

"This is part of the positive transition that's happening in our national economy," he said.

"We want to continue to back that in so we're backing in Aquaman, we backed in Thor, and we're backing in the Gold Coast."

QUT Creative Industry faculty professor Stuart Cunningham said the exchange rate was working in favour of Australia's film industry.

"The uptick has been going on for at least a couple of years. It's got significantly to do with the exchange rate," he said.

"The exchange rate during the global financial crisis saw the Australian dollar at a higher value than the US dollar.

"Of course that meant times were very tough for the international film industry both here [in Queensland] and the rest of the country."

Mr Cunningham said Queensland needed to stay competitive against the "dozens and dozens" of major sites across the globe that are bidding for large-budget Hollywood and Japanese productions.

Aquaman is scheduled for worldwide release in 2018.