Story By: Anna Casap, Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News
Video Credit: CEN/@nk_singh 123
Residents could have been forgiven for thinking a war was taking place on the streets outside but in fact it was merely action-packed filming for the latest film in the Fast and Furious franchise.
The spectacular footage filmed by a resident in a nearby flat in the city of Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, shows a spectacular car chase.
It includes a huge vehicle piling down the centre of the street as other vehicles flip over into its path.
In the air, at the same time, is a helicopter and the film crew cars speeding behind to capture the action. Gunfire-like sounds are also heard echoing out, apparently prompting people to move to their windows to watch what was happening.
Video Credit: CEN/@vindiesel
“Fast and the Furious 9” which is being filmed in the Georgian capital is being produced by Universal Pictures and directed by Justin Lin.
It stars Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez and Dwayne Johnson with the film set for release in May 2020.
The decision to select Georgia to be one of the shooting locations was made during a visit of Hollywood filmmakers to Tbilisi earlier in Spring, according to local media,
This video filmed by one eyewitness was then published on the TikTok social network. The second video was shared online by Fast and Furious star Vin Diesel, 52, and features the star, who plays Dominic Toretto in the movies, alongside Michelle Rodriguez, 41, who plays Letty Ortiz, thanking their fans:
Vin Diesel says: “Can you believe it, Letty, can you believe it?”
Michelle Rodriguez then says: “Nine! Nine!”
And Diesel says: “We’ve just completed our first day [of shooting]. It feels like a miracle”
He then thanks the studio and the fans around the world for “adopting the franchise.”
Shooting for this part of the movie began on 19th August, and is expected to continue until 20th September using some of the major streets and avenues of Tbilisi including Rustaveli Avenue, Freedom Square, Vajha Pshavela Avenue, Besarion Jghenti street, Avto Varazi street and University street.
A central shopping centre in the Georgian city of Rustavi, which is 25 kilometres (15.5 miles) southeast of Tbilisi, will also be used as a film set.
There are currently a film crew consisting 600 people on site, of which 425 are locals, according to local media.
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