The Legacy Arrives in Manila

“The Bourne Legacy”, the fourth installment of the spy-thriller Bourne series, is set to shoot the 25 percent of the film in the Philippines because of one reason… its “efficient film infrastructure”.

Troy Gilroy, director of the film, wanted an exotic place and Pat Crowley, the producer, said they were initially looking for a place close to the water, where the characters could hide, an airport, and a covered vegetable market—list of qualities that has been cleared upon deciding to do the shoot here in our shore, not to mention the highly-praised Filipino hospitality, cooperativeness and its production-friendly atmosphere.

The cast and crew of the production will be here for the month of January filming mostly on Leveriza Street, San Andres public market, J. Bocobo Street, Remedios Circle, Marikina fish port and El Nido, Palawan.

Rachel Weisz, film's lead actress, running around the area of Malate, Manila
 (photo courtesy of homesscapade.com)

 Although the new installment does not feature Jason Bourne (the main character of the first three films—meaning no Matt Damon in the Philippines which brought frown on the faces of Filipino Bourne fans such as myself) the film will star another A-list and very talented actor Jeremy Renner (Academy-award nominee for the movie “The Hurt Locker”) who will play Aaron Cross, who like Bourne, is a covert agent trained to become an assassin. The film also stars Rachel Weisz(“Definitely Maybe” and “Agora”) and Edward Norton (“The Incredible Hulk” and “Fight Club”) who will play the antagonist.

The film will showcase local talents as well, three veteran theater actors—Lou Veloso (who will play a fisherman), John Arcilla (a security guard), and Madeleine Nicolas (a hotel employee) will be seen in the big screen of the Hollywood film.

“The Bourne Legacy” will premier in the United States on August 3; and in September, a well-deserved special red-carpet screening is scheduled in Manila—although it is not certain that the main casts will be present in that event for they will be promoting in Europe at the same time.

Though the casts’ presence in the screening of “The Bourne Legacy” in Manila is still undecided, the Filipinos will certainly support the film.