RIDLEY Scott has confirmed Australia is his number one choice to shoot his next futuristic blockbuster Prometheus 2.

In an interview with news.com.au about his latest film The Martian, the 77-year-old said he hoped to be filming at Sydney’s Fox Studios by January, 2016.

“I’m trying to get into the big Sydney studio there for Prometheus 2,” he said.

“We’re doing that … well, I’m kicking off now actually.

“We’re literally starting prep now and we’ve got to land somewhere very shortly because my team have to get themselves over there and get all their team together.

“The pyramid of personnel on a film like this could be anywhere from 400 to 600 people, so you’ve got to get going — you’ve got to move.”

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop this week confirmed that she had spoken to the legendary filmmaker about coming Down Under for his next project, which was then unnamed at the time.

Scott caused a stir last year when he travelled out to Australia to scout locations and was seen at Fox Studios in Sydney and having lunch with Cate Blanchett in a pub nearby.

“As we speak I’m literally drawing: I’m doing storyboards for the film in January,” said Scott, who is best known for his films of epic scale such as Blade Runner, Gladiator and Thelma & Louise.

“I’m one of those people who can multitask — I’m drawing the bridge of the next spaceship.

“I do the sketches and then I bring in the chaps to make it. It almost becomes industrial design, which these things ought to be because you need that strong sense of reality (on set).

“When you do these films that are so big, the manner of designing them is enormous.”

The news comes at an exciting time for the Australian film industry, with many skilled crews looking to pick up work after the end of production on Disney’s fifth Pirates Of The Caribbean on the Gold Coast.

With rumours that Disney are looking at returning to our shores in late March to shoot one of two Marvel blockbusters on the Gold Coast — either Thor: Ragnarok or Captain Marvel — Scott’s Prometheus 2 is an enticing prospect.

A sequel to 2012’s Prometheus — which itself was a prequel to Scott’s most famous work Alien — the film is set to see Noomi Rapace and Michael Fassbender return to their roles.

Calling himself a “fan” of Australia, it seems Aussies are just as big fans of the filmmaker with his latest movie The Martian debuting at No. 1 on the local box-office.

Having made $1.3M within the first few days of its release in Australia, Scott said it was “very nice” to see the movie opening so strongly in the first place it has played in the world so far.

“It’s great, I got the figures and it’s very promising how well it’s doing in Australia.

“I’m not kidding myself, I’m not one of those people who says ‘Oh I don’t really care’ — I do care. I really do.

“I think it’s lovely when what you’ve done is appreciated as opposed to getting your head knocked off, right?”

The Martian sees Matt Damon play astronaut Mark Watney, who is accidentally left behind on Mars.

As the rest of his crew — featuring Jessica Chastain, Kate Mara and Sebastian Stan — attempt to save him, Watney has to find a way to survive on the red planet.