Russell Crowe looks very jolly as begins shooting his star-studded thriller Poker Face at a sprawling beachside property on the NSW South Coast

Russell Crowe has started shooting his new film Poker Face on the NSW South Coast. 

The New Zealand-born Australian actor, who is directing and starring in the psychological thriller, was spotted on-set at a sprawling beachside mansion in Kiama on Tuesday.

The Gladiator star, 57,  appeared very jolly as he joined the rest of the cast and crew and even called in a chopper for the day of filming.

Hard at work: Russell Crowe has started shooting his new film Poker Face on the NSW South Coast. The New Zealand-born Australian actor, who is directing and starring in the psychological thriller, was spotted on-set at a beachside mansion in Kiama on Tuesday

Russell, affectionately called Rusty by his fans and friends, wore a pair of dark jeans and a black polo shirt for his busy day of work.

He appeared in high spirits and very hands-on as a director, walking around the property and scoping out the best angles to film.  

Crew members made sure to keep Covid-safe by wearing face masks.

Casual:  Russell, affectionately called Rusty by his fans and friends, wore a pair of dark jeans and a black polo shirt for his busy day of work 

Safety first: Crew members made sure to keep Covid-safe by wearing face masks 

Excited: The Gladiator star appeared very jolly as he joined the rest of the cast and crew and even called in a chopper for the day of filming 

Director: It was reported at the end of last month that Russell had been upgraded to director of the film. He was previously listed as an actor on IMBD, but will now take over from Gary Fleder as director

Earlier this week, Russell shared a photo from the set on Twitter, and captioned it: ‘Shooting in Kiama. What a beautiful place.’

It was reported at the end of last month that Russell had been upgraded to director of the film. 

He was previously listed as an actor on IMBD, but will now take over from Gary Fleder as director.

It’s believed that the change was made due to Australia’s coronavirus restrictions, which would make it difficult for American Fleder to arrive Down Under.

Poker Face will also film on location in Sydney’s Fox Studios under strict Covid-safe guidelines. 

Hands-on: He appeared in high spirits and very hands-on as a director, walking around the property and scoping out the best angles to film

Border control: It’s believed that the change was made due to Australia’s coronavirus restrictions, which would make it difficult for American Fleder to arrive Down Under. Poker Face will also film on location in Sydney’s Fox Studios under strict Covid-safe guidelines

Russell, who is close friends with Aussie A-lister Chris Hemsworth, has casted his wife Elsa Pataky and his younger brother Liam Hemsworth in the film. 

According to Confidential, ‘both the youngest Hemsworth and Pataky have quietly been added to the cast of the flick with Crowe’. 

Russell has already picked out several iconic locations for the film’s set pieces, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Star-studded: Russell, who is close friends with Aussie A-lister Chris Hemsworth, has casted his wife Elsa Pataky and his younger brother Liam Hemsworth in the film 

At the time, the publication reported that one of the movie’s sequences will feature a high speed car chase inside the Harbour Tunnel.

Also being showcased in the film will be the $140 million penthouse atop of James Packer’s Crown Residences and ‘a sprawling Point Piper mansion overlooking Sydney Harbour’. 

While the movie was originally set in Miami, Florida, Russell has reportedly demanded the film be filmed and set in Sydney.

The New Zealand-born star wants ‘to show people just how stunning and world-class Sydney is,’ according to the newspaper’s sources. 

Showing Australia to the rest of the world: While the movie was originally set in Miami, Florida, Russell has reportedly demanded the film be filmed and set in Sydney. The New Zealand-born star wants ‘to show people just how stunning and world-class Sydney is’

Storyline: Poker Face tells the tale of a tech billionaire called Jake (played by Russell) who gathers his childhood friends to his estate for what turns into a high stakes game of poker

According to Deadline, Poker Face tells the tale of a tech billionaire called Jake (played by Russell) who gathers his childhood friends to his estate for what turns into a high stakes game of poker.

‘Those friends have a love hate relationship with the host, a master game-player/planner, and he has concocted an elaborate scheme designed to bring a certain justice to all of them,’ the publication reports.

‘However, Jake finds himself re-thinking his strategy when his mansion is overtaken by a dangerous home invader whose previous jobs have all ended in murder and arson.’

Co-stars: Joining Russell in the cast will be Wu-Tang Clan frontman RZA, while his fellow Oscar winner Natalie Portman is ‘circling a role’

Joining Russell, Liam and Elsa in the cast will be Wu-Tang Clan frontman RZA, while his fellow Oscar winner Natalie Portman is ‘circling a role’.

Russell recently worked with Portman while filming a small part in her film Thor: Love and Thunder.

Poker Face will mark the first time Russell has stepped behind the camera since his 2014 directorial debut The Water Diviner.

Back to it: Poker Face will mark the first time Russell has stepped behind the camera since his 2014 directorial debut The Water Diviner

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