Way back in October, it was confirmed that production would begin on Marvel's highly-anticipated Phase 3 sequel Thor: Ragnarok sometime this summer, although we haven't gotten a confirmed production start date since then. The cast is starting to come together, with new additions such as Cate Blanchett as Hela, Jeff Goldblum as The Grandmaster, Karl Urban as Skurge and Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie, but now we know exactly when shooting will begin. Marvel confirmed today that principal photography will in fact get under way on July 4.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Marvel Studios executive David Maisel made the announcement in a video for the Australian publication The Advertiser. David Maisel also revealed that "hundreds of local folks" will have the opportunity to be involved in the production. Here's what David Maisel had to say below.

"We opened the offices in Gold Coast about three months ago and we start principal photography in Gold Coast Australia on Thor: Ragnarok on July 4 and we'll be shooting there through late October."

Thor and Thor: The Dark World stars Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Anthony Hopkins (Odin) and Idris Elba (Heimdall) have been confirmed to reprise their roles, and it has also been confirmed that Natalie Portman will not be back as Jane Foster. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has teased that Thor: Ragnarok will largely be set in the cosmos, with very little time spent on Earth. While no official story details have been released yet, there have been plenty of rumors.

One of the most prevalent rumors is that the new villain Hela will team up with Loki and banish Thor from Asgard, destroying his mighty hammer Mjolnir in the process. Thor then goes on a journey that leads him to a plant full of gladiators, where he is forced to go up against the current champion, Hulk (Mark Ruffalo). This eventually leads to a "cosmic road trip" between Hulk and Thor, but none of those details have been confirmed. We'll be sure to keep you posted as we get closer to Thor: Ragnarok starting production on the 4th of July.