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Another Big Budget Movie for New Mexico

Blair Hart • Jul 11, 2016

The New Mexico Film Office announced that the Hollywood big budget movie “Hostiles” staring Christian Bale is coming to New Mexico. Principal photography will begin this month and continue through September in Santa Fe, Las Vegas, Abiquiu and Los Alamos. Set in 1892, “Hostiles” tells the story of a legendary Army captain, who agrees to escort a dying Cheyenne war chief and his family back to tribal lands. Making the harrowing and perilous journey from an isolated Army outpost in New Mexico to the grasslands of Montana, the former rivals encounter a young widow whose family was murdered on the plains. Together, they must join forces to overcome the punishing landscape and hostile Comanche tribes that they encounter along the way.

The movie is being directed by Scott Cooper, who worked with Bale in 2013’s “Out of the Furnace.” Cooper directed Johnny Depp in “Black Mass.” Bale is coming off an Oscar nomination for his role in “The Big Short.” The movie will employ about 350 New Mexico crew members and about 10 New Mexico cast members, not including background actors.

Coming out in September is another big budget movie that was filmed in New Mexico, “The Magnificent Seven”. This remake of the 1960 Western was filmed in New Mexico and stars Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt and Ethan Hawke, also staring Vincent D’Onofrio, Byung-hun Lee and Peter Sarsgaard. The film wrapped up production in late 2015. According to the New Mexico Film Office, the production employed about 275 New Mexico crew members, nine local actors and about 60 background actors. The movie was directed by Antoine Fuqua and is being released by Columbia Pictures and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures.

“We are proud to be featured as a backdrop for ‘Hostiles,’ said Los Alamos County Manager Harry Burgess in a statement. “New Mexico’s incentive program is definitely bringing the film industry to our state. It’s great to be a part of it.” New Mexico offers $50 million annually in tax rebates to production companies.

Several New Mexico TV film projects already announced include: “From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series” and “Midnight Texas.” “Better Call Saul” and “Longmire” are set to return as well.

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