Mark Wahlberg’s “Flight Risk” showcases how Las Vegas can stand in for Alaska in filmmaking
Las Vegas: Mark Wahlberg’s new film “Flight Risk” is set in Alaska, but most of it was shot in Las Vegas. Crazy, right? The movie features stunning Alaskan landscapes, but they had to get creative to make it work.
They filmed most scenes in the scorching heat of Vegas, with just a few days at the Mesquite airport. Wahlberg joked that you can shoot anywhere and just do it in Vegas. He even moved his family there and is pushing for the city to become a new Hollywood.
Big names like Howard Hughes Holdings and Sony Entertainment are backing plans for a major production studio in Summerlin. Wahlberg believes “Flight Risk” proves Vegas can handle big movie projects, even if they’re not set there.
Tax incentives have been a hurdle for filming in Nevada. Since Louisiana introduced tax rebates in the ’90s, many productions have flocked there instead. It’s tough for Vegas to compete, but “Flight Risk” is a rare exception.
Wahlberg’s film features a mob accountant trying to escape the Alaskan wilderness, with most of the action happening inside a modified plane. They used high-tech setups to create the illusion of flying over snowy landscapes.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time a Vegas star has filmed in front of LED panels. The technology has been used in other projects, making it easier to film in extreme weather conditions.
Wahlberg enjoyed the fast-paced filming schedule, wrapping up the movie in just 22 days. He’s hopeful that upcoming legislative changes will make filming in Vegas more appealing, turning it into a major production hub.
