Skip to main content

Has ‘Cherry’ picked Cleveland after all? (Update: It has)

Tom Holland joins the Russo Bros for 'Cherry'
For a while, it looked as though Cleveland’s own Russo Brothers (Avengers: Endgame, Community) and Tom Holland (Spider-Man: Far From Home) were headed to Cleveland to shoot the drama Cherry, based on Nico Walker’s semi-autobiographical novel.

Then, in mid-August, it was announced that the film would shoot in Los Angeles instead, the Russos citing concerns over whether the Ohio Film Tax Credit would remain in the state budget. The film received application approval for the tax credit in late July.

"While we believed there was a chance that the tax incentive was going to be re-instated in Ohio, we didn't know for sure, and we had to develop some plan B's,” the Russos said. “We ended up qualifying for the California tax incentive and being able to shoot in L.A. We also ended up qualifying for the Ohio tax incentive, but by the time they reinstated it, it was too late for us to change tracks."

Then, on August 27, a social media post from a local casting agent suggested the film may be headed back to Northeast Ohio.

Angela Boehm Casting announced on its Facebook page that it is searching for barbers “for the feature film ‘Cherry’ directed by the Russo Brothers here in Cleveland, Ohio, with a date still to be determined between mid October and mid December.” The agency also posted a request on Sept. 25 for people experienced in "military color guard" for the film.

The casting notice suggested the movie may be shooting more than establishing shots of the city. 

Last week, Midwest Movie Maker reached out to both AGBO Films and the Greater Cleveland Film Commission for comment.

Then, on Oct. 3, AGBO Films announced it would indeed shoot Cherry in Cleveland. 


"We were drawn to Cherry given our personal experience from Cleveland, as well as the important need to share stories like these," said Anthony and Joe Russo in the press release. "As Cleveland natives ourselves, it means a lot to us to be able to film in our hometown. We shot the exteriors for 'Winter Soldier' here, we are excited to return home to our roots."

The movie stars Holland and Ciara Bravo (Wayne and Red Band Society). Additional supporting cast includes Bill Skarsgård (IT), Jack Reynor (Midsommar), Forrest Goodluck (The Revenant), Jeff Wahlberg (Dora and the Lost City of Gold), Michael Gandolfini (The Deuce) and Kyle Harvey (The After Party).

As an aside, the Russo Bros were spotted in Lakewood, Ohio, on Sept. 26 to support their sister, Gabriella Rosalina, who is running for Appeals Court Judge.






Comments

MUFX Alan said…
Yeah. We all heard the same thingb that it was going away, but we heard that it was the heartbeat bill. Then it flip-flopped, and it is back to being shot here.

Popular Posts

Everything we know about Hulu's ‘The Land,’ the Cleveland Browns TV series

Actor Christopher Meloni hanging with the Cleveland Browns (photo Christopher Meloni) >> The Land , once called 17 Sundays , is This Is Us creator Dan Fogelman‘s upcoming Hulu series set in the world of pro football, starring Christopher Meloni and William H. Macy, and featuring a fictionalized version of the Cleveland Browns. Production has now wrapped, scenes were filmed in Northeast Ohio, and Hulu is targeting a 2027 release. In August 22025, Deadline reported that “ The Land  … got the largest allocation (of California tax credits) … with nearly $43 million.” Here’s everything we know so far about The Land . What is The Land  TV series about? The series centers on the Cleveland Browns, with Macy as team owner Hank Durkin, Meloni as head coach Danny Roarke, and Mandy Moore as Durkin’s ambitious daughter, Lauren, who has spent much of her life preparing to one day run the team. With family succession battles, front-office politics, an Ohio State quarterback becoming...

'Frankenstein,' family history and the art of listening: Meet Brittany Dobish

Brittany Dobish >> Whether she is documenting a nonprofit’s mission, preserving a piece of local history or helping someone tell a deeply personal story, Brittany Dobish believes the most meaningful moments happen when people feel safe enough to be heard. And safe enough to be honest. “I don’t interview people to find out who they are,” Dobish explains. “I interview them to remind them of who they are.” That philosophy shapes both her filmmaking and Dobish Legacy Films , the company she launched in 2024 to help people and organizations preserve the stories that might otherwise disappear. For Dobish, documentary filmmaking is not simply about recording what happened. It is about listening closely enough to discover what those experiences meant. Dobish with Mark Hamer, Crash Cat Media Finding meaning in the misunderstood Dobish’s interest in people, identity and personal history began long before she picked up a camera. As a teenager, she spent years observing the people around he...

5 Horrific Questions with 'It’s a Wonderful Knife's' Michael Kennedy

Hana Huggins as Cara Evans in the horror film, It's a Wonderful Knife . Photo courtesy of RLJE Films and Shudder. >>> In the late '90s, 16-year-old Michael Kennedy ventured into a theater with his friends to watch Scream , a movie he never expected to enjoy. Little did he know that this irreverent horror film would become a life-changing experience, sparking his fascination with filmmaking, horror movies, and the endless story possibilities available through the genre. Then, in 2020, Kennedy captivated audiences with his feature debut, Freaky , co-written with Christopher Landon. The darkly humorous and thrilling twist on Freaky Friday brought together horror, humor, and heart in a unique cinematic blend. The film garnered attention for its unconventional mix of laughs, jump scares, and, of course, buckets of blood. Now the North Olmsted, Ohio, native is sending up another classic with It’s a Wonderful Knife . Kennedy’s new film finds main character Winnie Carruthers’...