'Thor: Ragnarok' premiere date, cast news: Director creates jobs for Australian aborigines

"Thor: Ragnarok" director Taika Waititi is not just in Australia to supervise the filming of the forthcoming installment of Marvel's Thor franchise. The "What We Do in the Shadows" Kiwi director also emphasizes his project's socially inclusive dimension by creating jobs for Australian aborigines.

Waititi is of Maori descent in his native New Zealand. As an integral part of the production's social mission in its Australian film set, the director is making the recruitment of indigenous people a "priority." Furthermore, his hiring efforts coincided with Screen Australia's Indigenous Department's aim of creating more economic opportunities for the less well-off aboriginal population of the country.

"You're coming to a country and you're bringing money into the economy and creating jobs but I think you have an even bigger responsibility to look after the people that have less opportunities," said Waititi as per Buzzfeed report.

So far, eight people of aboriginal descent were hired in various areas of production including cinematographer Cornel Ozies and "The Sapphire" actress Shari Sebbens.

In another related update, around 80 locals in Australia's Gold Cast were reportedly laid off from the "Thor: Ragnarok" crew. The sacking left some people in the set feeling "desolate." The fired workers complained of being marginalized while the Kiwi crew members receive better treatment.

"There is quite a lot of antagonism about how the New Zealand crew is being well looked after and seem to be in charge of a lot of the main jobs," a local man complained as quoted in a Stuff NZ report.

Meanwhile, "The Hulk" Mark Ruffalo appeared to have already wrapped up his filming role in the upcoming Thor sequel as he celebrated the completion in an Instagram selfie with Waititi with a caption that says "Had such a great good fun time making this movie."

The movie is slated to hit the theaters on Oct. 27 next year. Chris Hemsworth reprises his title role in the movie. Loki's Tom Hiddleston also returns to the set with a bunch of newcomers like Cate Blanchett and Jeff Goldblum, among others.