The star-studded cast and crew was “extremely excited” to begin the five-week shoot for Kong: Skull Island, Gregg Brilliant, the production’s publicist, told dpa.

Directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts, who made his feature directorial debut with the 2013 comedy The Kings of Summer, the reboot of the 1933 classic monster movie stars A-list Hollywood talent including Samuel L Jackson, Brie Larson and Tom Hiddleston.

Speaking at a press conference in Hanoi on Sunday, Vogt-Roberts said Vietnam’s “magical” landscape enticed him to bring the production to the Southeast Asian nation, according to Viet Nam News.

“We immediately saw a stunningly beautiful sight that we thought was not real. It was magical,” said Vogt-Roberts.

While the production team has remained tight lipped about specificfilming locations, Brilliant told dpa that shooting was under way in central Vietnam.

Scenes have already been shot on Australia’s Gold Coast and Oahu, Hawaii, in the United States.

– DPA