Santa Fe, N.M. – New Mexico Film Office Director Todd Christensen announced that the live-action film “Bios” produced by Amblin Partners, has concluded principal photography at locations across New Mexico.
The production employed approximately 125 New Mexico crew members, 7 New Mexico actors and some 400 background extras.
“I'm always thrilled when a major production is able to use so much of New Mexico's diverse landscape and shoot in so many different locations," Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said. "As we boost our film and television industry, we are going to see more productions choosing to shoot outside the Santa Fe-Albuquerque corridor. That means more job opportunities for New Mexicans in rural areas.”
As part of her commitment to film and television production in New Mexico, Gov. Lujan Grisham visited the set of "Bios" earlier this month. There, she met with local crew, producers and actors, including Tom Hanks.
New Mexico Cabinet Secretary Alicia J. Keyes of the Economic Development Department said there is significant interest in New Mexico from the film and television industry as producers and studios learn about the generous incentives, experienced crews and scenic locations.
“Our phones are ringing,” said Keyes. “The industry is looking for stable, high-quality partnerships and New Mexico can do it all. We applaud "Bios"and Tom Hanks, and share in their success.”
“When movies like "Bios" come to the state and are able to utilize so many different areas of New Mexico, it’s a plus,” said Christensen, Film Office Director. “The diversity shows that New Mexico has a lot to offer productions.”
In “Bios,” Tom Hanks (“Cast Away,” “Saving Private Ryan,” “Forrest Gump”) stars as Finch, one of the only survivors of a cataclysmic event that has left the world, a wasteland ravaged by solar radiation. An ailing inventor facing his own mortality, Finch builds a robot to keep his beloved dog safe. As the trio embarks upon an epic cross-country journey, the scientist must teach his creation to become “human” enough to take care of its charge and the beloved pet to accept a new master.
"Bios" was directed by Miguel Sapochnik (HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” “True Detective”), and shot in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Shiprock, Los Lunas, Socorro and White Sands National Monument.
Previously announced in the cast are Caleb Landry Jones (“Get Out,” “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”) and Samira Wiley (“Handmaid’s Tale,” “Orange is the New Black”). The production also announced Skeet Ulrich (“Escape Room,” “Scream”) and Laura Harrier (“BlacKkKlansman,” “Spider-Man: Homecoming”) as new additions to the cast.
The live-action film is written by Craig Luck and Ivor Powell ("Alien," "Blade Runner"), and is produced by Kevin Misher ("Public Enemies," "Fighting With My Family"), as well as ImageMovers Jack Rapke ("Cast Away," "Flight") and Jackie Levine ("Allied," upcoming Robert Zemeckis' adaptation of "The Witches"). Academy Award® winner Robert Zemeckis ("Cast Away", "Flight," "Back to the Future" trilogy), Sapochnik, Adam Merims,Luck and Andy Berman serve as executive producers.
Producing in association with Amblin Partners is Walden Media, who recently closed a deal to board the project. This will be the fourth film that Amblin and Walden have partnered on.
Overseeing for Amblin Partners is Co-President of Production Jeb Brody, along with Andrew Calof, VP, Creative Affairs.
Ulrich is represented by Luber Roklin and Paradigm. Harrier is represented by ICM Partners, Soffer/Namoff Entertainment and Peikoff Mahan.
The film will be released on Oct. 2, 2020 by Universal Pictures domestically, and Universal and Amblin Partners internationally.
About Amblin Partners
Amblin Partners is a film and television production company, led by Steven Spielberg, that develops and produces films using the Amblin Entertainment, DreamWorks Pictures and Participant Media banners and includes Amblin Television, a longtime leader in quality programming. The company’s investment partners include Participant Media, Reliance Entertainment, Entertainment One (eOne), Alibaba Pictures and Universal Pictures.
www.amblin.com
About Image Movers
Founded in 1997 by Robert Zemeckis and Jack Rapke, ImageMovers is an independent production company specializing in feature films and television. Films produced by ImageMovers include Cast Away, Flight, What Lies Beneath and Allied. Recent television projects via the firm’s Campari arm include the NBC series Manifest and Project Blue Book for the History Channel. Currently the company is in production on the motion picture Witches.
About Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures is a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is part of NBCUniversal. NBCUniversal is one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group and world-renowned theme parks. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.