Carry-Ondirector Jaume Collet-Serra explains how his new Netflix action film was able to recreate the bustling Los Angeles International Airport during its busiest day of operations. FeaturingKingsmanstar Taron Egerton as a young TSA agent who finds himself at the mercy of a mysterious traveler (Jason Bateman) with deadly intentions,Carry-Onrecently made its streaming debuton December 13.
Speaking withTudum, Collet-Serra explained how his latest movie could film its action sequences in what appeared to be one of the world’s busiest airports. Revealing that while the movie was set in Los Angeles, production took place in New Orleans, with the old terminal ofthe Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport standing in for LAX. By having access to the whole space, the director’s team could redress the set to more closely resemble LAX and access areas not typically available to regular passengers. Check out his comments below:
We took over the old MSY [Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport] in New Orleans and redesigned/decorated it to look like LAX. It was such a thrill to have the whole space at our disposal and be able to explore all these areas of an airport that we don’t normally get to see as passengers.
What Carry-On’s Filming Location Means For The Netflix Thriller
The Demands Of Carry-On Would Have Been Too Much For The Real LAX
As the closest international airport to major Hollywood studios, LAX has been featured in countless movies and television shows throughout the years. Also, much like Collet-Serra using the old MSY terminal to stand in for the Los Angeles Airport,so too has LAX been frequently used to represent other international airportsworldwide. For example, in Christopher Nolan’s2020 sci-fi action thrillerTenet, it is LAX’s Tom Bradley International Terminal that is used as a stand-in for the Oslo Airport, Gardermoen.
However, while most movies that shoot on location at LAX may only have a few scenes set there, thedemands of filmingCarry-Onwould likely have had too large an impacton the daily operations of a working terminal. As such, being able to secure access to a whole and unused airport terminal would have enabled Collet-Serra and his team to more accurately represent the behind-the-scenes workings of the aviation industry without any undue impacts on the terminal’s real-world functions.
Unlike Carry-On,which was able to film its action in a single location, Die Hard 2 director Renny Harlin was not as fortunate in his bid to recreate Washington Dulles International Airport.
Ironically, withCarry-Oncurrently being compared to theBruce Willis-ledDie Hardfranchise, Collet-Serra was even able toavoid many of the pitfalls that came with making 1990’sDie Hard 2. UnlikeCarry-On,which was able to film its action in a single location,Die Hard 2director Renny Harlin was not as fortunate in his bid to recreate Washington Dulles International Airport. Instead, he had to rely on using multiple stand-ins, including Kincheloe Air Force Base and LAX, in addition to using sound stages and matte paintings.
Our Take On MSY Standing In For LAX
Using A Real Airport Helps Lend The Film Authenticity
While a small portion ofCarry-On’saudience may be able to spot the differences between New Orleans’ old MSY terminal and LAX,for most viewers the substitution is relatively seamless. Removing the need to recreate many otherwise restricted areas on a Hollywood sound stage, the ability to access a real-world terminal without being constrained by its ongoing operations would likely have been a major boon to the movie’s production team. Lending the final product a greater air of authenticity,Carry-On’s filming location is an invaluable addition to a movie that is so heavily tied to its airport setting.
Carry-On
Cast
Carry On is a film directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, focusing on a young TSA agent who is coerced by a mysterious traveler into allowing a dangerous package onto a Christmas Eve flight. As events unfold, he must use his wits to resolve the perilous situation.
