Set and filmed in New York, Players stars Gina Rodriguez, Damon Wayans Jnr, and Tom Ellis, in a story of a sports writer who usually does not aspire to long-term commitments starting to reconsider her position. The Big Apple is more than just a backdrop to this story, with its many landmarks almost becoming characters of their own in the story, and an obvious love for the city coming through strongly.
Filming Locations
Players is set and was filmed in New York, and the filmmakers have a love for the city, with some recognizable landmarks all displayed for the audience to admire. The movie makes the location almost as intrinsic to the plot as the cast, and this was a decision that was deliberately made. Only one sound stage was used in the film’s production, with the rest of the movie being filmed in and around New York.
In an article on Today, the director of the film, Trish Sie, would say:
“We tried to be on location as much as possible so that we felt real and it doesn’t feel like the fairy tale version,” she explains. “I mean, all movies are a fairy tale, especially rom-coms, and I think that’s part of what you’re signing up for. But we also wanted it to feel like, ‘Wait, I see myself, I see my friends. I see my neighborhood bar, I see my apartment, I see my block of Brooklyn — or whatever town you live in — so that it doesn’t just feel like a glossy postcard version of a love story.”
The Tom Ellis character is seen at various New York locations including his run along The East River, and Mack herself spends a lot of time in Brooklyn. The director would say that they wanted to also show that New York is a real city, separate from the more tourist-based locations, so they would shoot in various bars around the city including The Brooklyn Inn on 148 Hoyt Street, East River Bar, The Gutter, Juliette Restaurant, and Brooklyn Bridge Park, just southwest of the Brooklyn Bridge on the Brooklyn side of the East River.
Production Team
The film was produced by Marc Platt Productions and Campfire Studios. You might recognize Marc Platt as the producer of La La Land, Hotel Artemis, The Girl on the Train, Cruella, Oslo, and many other movies.
The Cast
Gina Rodriguez plays Mack. You will know Gina from various TV shows such as Animals, Jane the Virgin, Dash and Lily, and Lost Ollie. Gina would also be involved in the podcast series focused on Batman, including Batman Unburied.
Tom Ellis plays the stylish and intriguing love interest in the movie, but you may be more familiar with the Welsh actor from the fan-favorite supernatural series Lucifer. He would appear in a few US-based shows, after making the shift from the UK, where he appeared in the sitcom Miranda.
Other members of the cast include:
- Adam – Damon Wayans Jr.
- Brannagan – Augustus Prew
- Little – Joel Courtney
- Ashley – Liza Koshy
- Claire – Ego Nwodim
- Karen Kirk – Marin Hinkle
- Brady Stratton – Brock O’Hurn
- Mary – Sarah Dacey Charles
- Carl – Jerry Kernion
Writer Whit Anderson is behind the script for the sexy romantic comedy, and previously Whit had worked on shows such as Daredevil and Ozark, so this is a real swerve from her other projects. She is often credited under the name Whitney Lyn Anderson.
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