Written by Shona Smith on Apr 30, 2019. Posted in On Location / Production News

Jumanji sequel wraps filming in New Mexico’s Navajo Nation

The Sony Pictures production carried out principal production on the reservation with support from the Navajo Nation leadership. Filming was centred in the Shiprock region in north west New Mexico, an area named after a distinguishble jagged rock formation.

Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez commented “First of all, we extend our welcome and appreciation to the Jumanji production team and cast for filming on the Navajo Nation. This partnership with Sony Pictures allowed the Navajo Nation to internationally display its beautiful landscape and unique culture on a major produced film”.

The production spent a month in pre-production for the shoot. One hundred New Mexican crew members were hired during pre-production and principal photography.

Michelle Lujan Grisham, New Mexico Governor explained “we want to develop a film industry as broad and inclusive as our wide-open vistas, extending into rural areas all across the state. This shoot represents a step toward that goal”.

In an effort to attract productions to locations outside the Rio Grande corridor, an additional 5% on the tax credit will be included for rural filming. Productions will be able to access the 30% film incentive from 1 July 2019.

With a steady stream of incoming projects heading to the southern state, the new incentive is hoped to prompt producers to look more closely at the state’s range of outdoor locations.

The second in the rebooted Jumanji franchise, which is based on the premise that four teens who get sucked into the video game world of Jumanji have to complete the game to escape, stars Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Nick Jonas, Awkwafina, Danny Glover and Danny DeVito. The plot is still under wraps but is co-written by director Jake Kasdan, Jess Pinkner and Scott Rosenberg. Filming for its 2017's Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle took place in the US states of Hawaii, Georgia and California.

New Mexico film incentives provide eligible productions with a 25% refundable tax credit on direct and post-production New Mexico expenditure. For feature films, an additional 5% credit is added for resident services when a production facility is used for a minimum of 10-15 principal photography days. Standalone TV Pilots can access the 30% credit on direct production expenditures, as can TV Series shooting at least six episodes in New Mexico. From July 1, the 5% uplift will also apply for filming in rural areas.

Elsewhere in New Mexico, The New Mexico Film Office announced the fifth series of Netflix’s Better Call Saul has started principal photography for a shoot expected to employ over a thousand New Mexico crew, actors and background talent.

Images: Sony Pictures