Liam Neeson praises Melbourne’s handling of the coronavirus crisis
Back in Melbourne for the first time in 24 years to film his latest blockbuster Blacklight, Liam Neeson has been spotted around town and overheard praising our state’s handling of the crippling coronavirus pandemic.
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Liam Neeson has returned to Melbourne for the first time in 24 years to film his latest blockbuster film, Blacklight.
The Northern Irish star had South Yarra buzzing on Tuesday while filming in a leafy side street near The Tan, and on Wednesday was out in Noble Park at Lollipops Playland, a children’s indoor play centre.
A backlot has also been set up at the Melbourne Convention Centre.
Neeson was seen wearing a mask while on set and overheard praising Melbourne’s response to the coronavirus crisis.
Some of the crew said he had lunch beside the Yarra River on Tuesday and it’s believed he is staying around Southbank.
Neeson, 68, stars as Travis Block, a “troubled off-the-books fixer for the FBI” in the film written, directed and produced by Ozark co-creator Mark Williams.
The Hollywood star, who has two movies out at Australian cinemas now, quarantined in Sydney for two weeks before arriving in Melbourne at the weekend.
The Convention Centre location has become a studio with Jeff’s Shed turned into a backlot.
Explosive action scenes will be filmed in Macedon from Monday, with gunfire to be discharged and trailers detonated over the three days of filming in “The Res”.
The park area was chosen to represent a trailer park in Maryland, while the apartment block in South Yarra aimed to represent a period building in Washington.
Blacklight is a huge boost for the local film and TV industry, bringing in more than 500 local jobs and with around-the-clock security.
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COMPLETE GUIDE TO EVERY MOVIE IN MELBOURNE CINEMAS
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