Over the weekend, Chris Hemsworth and his friend Luke Zocchi picked up an American tourist who was attempting to hitchhike from Brisbane to Byron Bay, and surprised him by taking him to Byron in a helicopter. Classic.
Hemsworth and Zocchi saw the hitchhiker with a sign by the side of the road and decided to give him a lift, since they live in Byron and were heading there anyway. Very practical, makes sense.
Halfway through the drive, however, they surprise him by asking if he’s ever flown in a chopper, and at that point he realises they’re flying to Byron.
The hitchhiker in question, Scott Hildebrand, was interviewed on The Project last night after Hemsworth posted the video on Instagram yesterday.
We chat to Scott Hildebrand, who was lucky enough to get a lift via chopper from Chris Hemsworth! #TheProjectTV pic.twitter.com/mVKLXXmO40
— The Project (@theprojecttv) October 22, 2018
Hildebrand told Waleed Aly that he didn’t recognise Hemsworth at first, and initially offered to chip in for gas. That explains why Hemsworth says in the video “you can chip in for gas, it’ll be 4 grand”.
He only realised who was giving him a lift when Zocchi said to him, “This is Chris Hemsworth, Thor”, probably because he was expecting Hildebrand to be more star-struck (I know I would be). Apparently Hildebrand is bad with pop culture, which is why he didn’t recognise the God of Thunder.
He says he’s going to check out more of Hemsworth’s movies now though, and Hemsworth will be doing the same with his music, even going so far as to include one of Hildebrand’s songs in the video he uploaded to Instagram. Amazingly, the song is called ‘Ready to Fly’.
Many Australians were quick to point out that hitchhiking in Australia normally doesn’t end with a lift from an Avenger.
Chris Hemsworth is a far better outcome than this guy…#theprojecttv @theprojecttv pic.twitter.com/wR3DKAP7UU
— Ira Snave (@IraSnave) October 22, 2018
In Australia if you hitchhike you'll either be picked up by a serial killer or Chris Hemsworth, there is no in between
— Jenna Guillaume (@JennaGuillaume) October 22, 2018
I like those odds, tbh.
Others pointed out how the video is peak Australia:
This is not helping the stereotype that you can't turn around in Australia without tripping over a random Hemsworth. https://t.co/766dAfZjBr
— the woods are lovely dark and deep (@rAdelaidegrl) October 22, 2018
this video doesnt represent australian reality at all but at the same time it's the most australian video ever https://t.co/vAzOQ2rXdp
— mahitha (@figstyles) October 22, 2018
If anyone needs me, I’m going to be hanging around Brisbane airport trying to hitchhike to Byron. What could go wrong?