CLEVELAND — The directors behind the movie Avengers: Endgame have announced they’re coming back to Cleveland to shoot their next film.
The uncertainty over the movie tax credit in the state led the Russo brothers to pull out of filming in Cleveland as state legislators were deciding whether to drop the movie tax credit in Ohio. But since then, the state approved its budget and kept the movie tax credit.
On Thursday, the Russo Brothers announced they will come back to shoot their new film Cherry in Cleveland.
“We were drawn to Cherry given our personal experience from Cleveland, as well as the important need to share stories like these. As Cleveland natives ourselves, it means a lot to us to be able to film in our hometown. We shot the exteriors for ‘Winter Soldier’ here, we are excited to return home to our roots,” Anthony and Joe Russo said.
Evan Miller with the Greater Cleveland Film Commission said filming is expected to begin in October. The movie Cherry, starring Spider-Man’s Tom Holland, is a story about an army medic with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder who becomes a bank robber to support his opioid addiction.
Joe and Anthony Russo, who are Cleveland natives, filmed major project Captain America: The Winter Soldier here.
“Very excited to have the Russo Brothers coming back home,” Miller said. “They’ve been so supportive of our mission to create more jobs and sustained economic development in Cleveland, and this project will help do so.”
Since 2007, more than 300 productions have been filmed in Ohio, according to the Cleveland Film Commission. In the last nine years, the industry brought $700 million to the state and created more than 5,000 jobs.
With continued support from the Russo Brothers, Miller believes it’s an investment that will make a big impact in Northeast Ohio.
“Actions speak louder than words," he said. "And by [the Russo Brothers] shooting, not just this, but several projects like this over the years, just shows their commitment to the city, that they like working here and they’re willing to bring both large and small scale projects here in Cleveland.”