Not too long ago, we wondered if Captain America: Winter Soldier would come to Cleveland, since its directors, Joe and Anthony Russo, hail from the Northcoast. Looks like that wish has come true. Today the Greater Cleveland Film Commission announced that the sequel to the 2011 blockbuster will take over downtown next year.
Again, Cleveland and the surrounding area will double for locations like New York City and, possibly, Russia. Studio work will take place in California. In upcoming posts, we'll dig into the Winter Soldier story and see if we can make some predications.
Here's the rest of the release:
"Marvel is pleased to return to Ohio, this time with our Captain America: The Winter Soldier production. The location, talent and people of Ohio are sure to benefit our film, and we look forward to beginning production," said Louis D'Esposito, co-president, Marvel Studios.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier will pick up where Marvel's The Avengers leaves off, as Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world. The film will be directed by brothers Anthony and Joe Russo, Cleveland natives whose credits include the movie Welcome to Collinwood, the Fox TV series Arrested Development, and the NBC TV series Community.
The Greater Cleveland Film Commission was in talks with Marvel Studios for weeks, sharing information about Ohio's physical assets and helping them learn about the benefits of filming in Ohio -- including the recently expanded Ohio Motion Picture Tax Incentive.
In June, the State of Ohio expanded the Ohio Motion Picture Tax Incentive, a critical tool for strengthening Ohio's growing film industry and creating jobs for Ohioans. The tax incentive provides for a refundable credit against the corporation franchise or income tax for motion pictures produced in Ohio.
"We're thrilled that Marvel Studios is bringing another major motion picture project to Cleveland, and we're committed to showing them the very best our region has to offer," said Ivan Schwarz, executive director of the Greater Cleveland Film Commission. "We proved with the filming of Marvel's The Avengers that Cleveland has the talent, architecture and amazing locations that will provide filmmakers everything they need to ensure a successful filming experience, and the economic impact of this new project can't be denied. Filming will create a number of jobs for Ohioans and will give our region another chance to demonstrate how skilled, professional and dedicated our workforce truly is. We especially appreciate Governor Kasich and the Ohio Film Office for their support and timely approval of these exciting opportunities."
The Greater Cleveland Film Commission is committed to building a year-round, sustainable statewide film industry through job creation, workforce development, and attracting media production.
Frank G. Jackson, Mayor of Cleveland, Ohio, stated, "We are thrilled to host Marvel and the filming of Captain America: The Winter Soldier in 2013. We have worked diligently with the Greater Cleveland Film Commission to make our city an attractive location for films of all sizes. Marvel's return to Cleveland shows we can provide a film-friendly atmosphere that will ultimately lead to a permanent presence of the film industry in Northeast Ohio."
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