Filming on Tom Hanks' large scale mini-series The Pacific has begun down under.

The film star's teamed up with director Steven Spielberg to produce the 10-part series at a cost of $230 million.

The pair have blended the stories of several writers who served as US Marines in the Pacific during World War II.

The action moves from Guadalcanal to Australia then to Japan.

Hanks is reportedly hoping to dig into a sense of realism just as Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan did.