Ryan Reynolds: Abu Dhabi was ‘wild to shoot in’ for action thriller 6 Underground
DUBAI: Ryan Reynolds, who stars in the latest Netflix action thriller “6 Underground,” said Abu Dhabi was “wild to shoot in.”
Reynolds, who is known for his starring role in Deadpool, plays the role of a tech billionaire who, after faking his death, recruits a team of international operatives for a bold mission to take down a brutal dictator.
It is said to be Netflix’s most expensive production to date, with a budget of around $125 million.
“In our movie it’s California, the Middle East. It plays as Hong Kong as well,” Reynolds said in a video released by media production company Twofour54 this week.
Other scenes depicted international locations in the film include Nigeria, Afghanistan and Hong Kong. All of which were shot in the UAE, stars of the movie revealed.
“What I liked about Abu Dhabi is the modernity to it,” the film’s director Michael Bay said.
“There’s a beautiful aesthetic to the desert. There’s a beautiful aesthetic to the city. It’s clean. It’s safe,” Bay added.
Bay, who is known for directing the “Transformers” sequel, said scenes representing Afghanistan were shot in Ras Al-Khaimah’s Al-Hamra, an area locals referred to as “an ancient ghost city.” The scenes portrayed as Nigeria were filmed near to Al-Hamra.
“It’s very versatile to have a place where literally like five minutes away it’s like a different country,” he explained.
The movie had a production team of more than 100 Abu Dhabi-based production specialists working closely with Twofour54, which provided full production services.
This is just the latest in a string of blockbusters that have used the UAE. Other movies include the comedy “War Machine,” starring Brad Pitt, in 2015 and “Mission Impossible,” starring Tom Cruise, in 2011.
