Russo brothers begin filming Cherry in Cleveland

Hot directors Anthony and Joe Russo begin filming drama Cherry, starring Tom Holland, in their hometown of Cleveland, Ohio today.

The project was potentially going to have to film elsewhere when there was uncertainty over the future of the state’s $40m yearly film tax credit. Fortunately, it was reinstated, and so the Avengers directors are pushing ahead with the production.

“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 ‘[Captain America: The] Winter Soldier’ here, we are excited to return home to our roots,” said Anthony and Joe Russo.

“Having just moved back home to Cleveland myself, I’m so excited the Russo Brothers are also coming back to film their next project,” said Evan Miller, the Greater Cleveland Film Commission’s new president. “The GCFC worked very closely with the Russo Brothers and their production company AGBO to ensure this Cleveland-based story would be filmed in Cleveland. We are grateful for their continued support of our mission to create jobs and further economic development through the film / media industry."

In Cherry, Holland, who starred as Spider-Man in three Marvel films directed by the Russos, plays a young Army veteran suffering from PTSD who returns home to Cleveland, gets hooked on opioids and then starts robbing banks to pay for his drug habit. The movie is based on the novel written by and based on the life of former Cleveland resident Nico Walker, who is currently serving a prison sentence in Kentucky.

The cast also includes Ciara Bravo (Wayne), Bill Skarsgard (It), and Jack Reynor (Midsommar). 

Image: Anthony and Joe Russo on set of Captain America: Civil War. © IndieWire