LANSING — The Michigan Film Office announced today that the feature film Need for Speed has been approved for a film incentive from the state. The DreamWorks Studio film chronicles a cross-country journey at impossible speeds and will film, in part, in Detroit this summer.
In addition to filming in the state, two Michigan businesses — Race Car Replicas in Clinton Township and Technosports Creative of Livonia — are being utilized to build and enhance cars being featured in the film.
The cast for Need for Speed includes actors Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad, Mission Impossible III), Dominic Cooper (Captain America, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter), and Imogen Poots (Fright Night, 28 Weeks Later). Scott Waugh (Act of Valor) will be directing.
“Need for Speed was initially just looking at Michigan to do car builds for the film, but we were able to make the case that this was a terrific place to film the movie as well,” Margaret O’Riley, director of the Michigan Film Office, said. “This project fits so well into both our reputation as a great state for filmmaking and the automotive heritage Michigan is known for; it’s a strong investment all around.”
Need for Speed was awarded an incentive of $1.4 million on $5.0 million of projected in-state expenditures. The project is expected to hire 111 in-state workers with a full time equivalent of 11 jobs.
The project has tapped Race Car Replicas to build chassis for several of the “supercars” that will be raced in the film. Technosports Creative is working on a vehicle that will also be showcased throughout the film. The work being done at Race Car Replicas and Technosports Creative is not included in, but is in addition to the work being incentivized.
The film adaptation will be a fast-paced film rooted in the tradition of the car culture films of the ‘70s while being faithful to the spirit of the video game franchise. In Need for Speed, gamers take to the streets facing tough opposition from elaborate courses, pesky opponents, and treacherous speeds. In Fiscal Year 2013, nine projects have been awarded a total of $10.7 million on $37 million of approved production expenditures for the year. These projects are expected to create 679 Michigan hires with a full time equivalent of 215 jobs.
The Michigan Economic Development Corp. Film Review Committee, comprised of senior MEDC staff including the Michigan Film Commissioner, reviews all completed applications using the statute to guide approval decisions.
