A sweeping, romantic epic — possibly Australia’s biggest and most expensive movie to be made — will be filmed in the Kimberleys of Western Australia, Darwin in the Northern Territory and in the state of Queensland. The film, whose title has not yet been announced, will be directed by celebrated Australian filmmaker Baz Luhrmann and stars Oscar winners Nicole Kidman (The Hours) and Russell Crowe (Gladiator).

Luhrmann is expected to rehearse his Australian stars in Los Angeles next month and begin shooting five months later.

Luhrmann has directed Kidman previously in Moulin Rouge.

Luhrmann first came to film prominence with Strictly Dancing which was then followed by Romeo + Juliet, a hip modern version of Shakespeare’s classic story of star-crossed lovers.

The Luhrmann film epic is said to begin in the mid-1930s and conclude with the 1942-43 Japanese bombing of Darwin and the exodus south, known as the Adelaide River Stakes.