THE Federal and State governments are trying to elbow each other out of the spotlight surrounding the Gold Coast’s Aquaman movie coup, with both claiming a starring role in securing the blockbuster production.

The Courier-Mail revealed today that Aquaman, entertainment giant DC Comics’ first Australian film, would be shot on the Coast in a $160 million injection for the local economy.

A $22 million Federal Government rebate helped secure the production, but Queensland Premier and Arts Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk is claiming the credit.

A media release from the Premier’s office today claimed her Government had “secured” the film, which will star Game of Thrones hunk Jason Momoa in the titular role and Johnny Depp’s ex, Amber Heard, who was last on the Coast when Depp shot the latest Pirates of the Caribbean movie.

Ms Palaszcuk said she had “personally negotiated” with Warner Bros Studios to bring the production to Queensland.

“Queensland was successful in winning a competitive bid to to attract Aquaman, contributing to our reputation as a leading film destination,” she said.

But federal Treasurer Scott Morrison hit back, saying he would happily send Ms Palaszczuk the $22 million rebate bill.

Mr Morrison said the money was coming from the Commonwealth, and “I’ve never had a discussion with the Premier about this issue”.

“When it’s a success, everybody wants to jump on board,’’ he said at a media conference at Yatala-based Swagman motorhomes, which will supply vehicles to the Aquaman set.

“None of their (the Queensland Government) discussions with us had anything to do with this decision today at all.”

media_camera Jason Momoa’s Aquaman (right) as he appears in Justice League, which will be released next year.

Mr Morrison said Swagman could supply a mini motor-home for Heard’s controversial pooches Pistol and Boo.

The pint-sized Yorkshire terriers landed the actor in Southport Magistrates Court court earlier this year charged with breaching Australia’s quarantine laws after she smuggled them into Australia on a private jet while Depp was filming Pirates of the Caribbean on the Gold Coast.

Federal Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce created international headlines when he threatened to have Pistol and Boo put down unless they ‘buggered off back to the United States’.

After Heard pleaded guilty and was placed on a $1000 good behaviour bond, she and Depp made an awkward video for the federal Government urging people to respect Australia’s quarantine laws.

Mr Morrison said Pistol and Boo were welcome back as long as they came through the proper processes.

“Everyone knows what the rules are and you can be assured they they apply to everybody as they did last time,’’ he said.

Swagman CEO Dave Suttor said the company could provide ‘a little home for Pistol and Boo if Amber would like to bring them onto the film set’.

“That’ll be in close proximity to, I’m sure, her very adequate accommodation that we will provide,” he said.

Mr Morrison added: “It’s one of the many services that go into making these blockbuster films.”

OVERNIGHT:

ENTERTAINMENT titan DC Comics will film its first movie in Australia after Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison agreed to pay the superhero franchise almost $22 million to bring Aquaman to the Gold Coast.

The blockbuster deal, which will create almost 1200 jobs and pump $160 million into the local economy, will be officially announced by Mr Morrison and Arts Minister Mitch Fifield at the Gold Coast today.

An excited Treasurer agreed to pay more to attract the global phenomenon to the Glitter Strip, beating other countries vying for the money spinner.

media_camera Game of Thrones’ Jason Momoa as Aquaman. Picture: Warner Bros

Aquaman will star Game of Thrones beefcake Jason Momoa and Amber Heard, Johnny Depp’s ex, who made international headlines after Barnaby Joyce put her in the doghouse last year for smuggling her terriers Pistol and Boo into Australia.

The movie also brings home Australian director James Wan, who worked on Saw and the successful ­Furious 7.

The investment comes as the new film Thor: Ragnarok has finished filming at the Gold Coast.

Member for Forde Bert van Manen said that building those sets, equipment and other general maintenance for Thor cost $500,000 that was spent at Oxenford’s Bunnings alone.

Mr Morrison’s one-off grant for Aquaman tops up the Location Offset, which subsidises a film company based on the amount of production expenditure in Australia. That will be listed in Monday’s Midyear Economic and Fiscal Outlook.

“Making movies is core business for the Gold Coast, supporting jobs and businesses throughout the region. Our decision to back in Thor was a marvel and so will be our decision to back Aquaman,” Mr Morrison said yesterday.

Tourism Minister Steven Ciobo will today release an Australian Screen Production Industry Capability Report, and that will reveal that in the past five years, about 50 feature films were produced in Australia each year.

Originally published as Batman v Superman? No, ScoMo vs Annastacia