A new movie filmed in Providence, Rhode Island, now has an official name. The film is called The Great Beyond. It is directed by J.J. Abrams and stars Glen Powell in the lead role. The title was revealed by World of Reel, based on a filing with the Writers Guild of America.
During filming, the movie used the working title Ghostwriter. That name was only temporary. The final title, The Great Beyond, was recently revealed through an industry filing.
In August, the production team spent about one week filming in and around Providence. Many people noticed the activity, especially when the Point Street Bridge was closed overnight for filming. This scene featured Glen Powell, who was seen shooting at more than six locations across the city.
Some of the real Providence locations used in the movie include Benefit Street, the Providence Performing Arts Center, Federal Hill, the Fox Point Hurricane Barrier, and the East Bay Bike Path. These places were barely changed, meaning the city mostly appears as itself on screen.
Before coming to Rhode Island, most of the movie was filmed in the United Kingdom. Large parts were shot in London studios, as well as on location in Glasgow and Edinburgh, Scotland. Those areas were dressed to look like a futuristic big city, which is different from how Providence was shown.
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Along with Glen Powell, the film also stars Jenna Ortega, Emma Mackey, and Samuel L. Jackson. However, only Powell was seen filming in Rhode Island.
The story follows Powell’s character as he is pulled into an imaginary world created by a fantasy writer, played by Samuel L. Jackson. The movie mixes fantasy with real-world settings, which is why both studio work and real cities were used.
The movie is now in post-production. An early spring release is being discussed, though no exact date has been confirmed yet.
With its mix of international filming and iconic Providence locations, The Great Beyond is shaping up to be a film that puts Rhode Island back in the spotlight.