Lights, Camera, Action In Newark: Filming Boom Continues In NJ's Largest City

NEWARK, NJ — A filmmaking boom continues to light up New Jersey’s largest city, officials say.

Newark has been seeing a movie and television renaissance in recent years, with a high-profile roster of blockbusters shooting footage in the city. With two film studios reportedly in the works – the Lionsgate facility and a Whoopi Goldberg-led project – the Brick City may be about to experience a lot more to come.

The range of shows and movies have been diverse – and included some major blockbusters.

In 2018, the streets of Newark transformed into 1980s Gotham City during filming for the “Joker” movie. Read More: Newark Becomes Gotham City For ‘Joker’ Movie (VIDEOS)

The city also served as the backdrop for The Many Saints of Newark,” the prequel movie for beloved HBO hit, “The Sopranos.”

In 2024, Newark was among several New Jersey municipalities that were designated as “Film Ready Communities,” further cementing its name recognition among production crews.

That year, the BET+ series “Diarra From Detroit” captured footage at multiple locations in Newark, including the Sol-Mar Restaurant, The Union Building, and Market/Clinton/Ferry streets.

Adam Sandler also recently created some good vibes in Newark when he came to the city to film scenes for “Happy Gilmore 2.”

Other recent filming in Newark has included Hulu’s “Wu-Tang: An American Saga,” Peacock’s “The Best Man: The Final Chapters,” “Ezra,” “Law and Order: Organized Crime” and AMC’s “The Walking Dead: Dead City,” among a variety of other popular movies and television shows.

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The city’s office of film and TV has been sharing several local casting calls for actors and production crew members.

Recent calls for submissions include “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” “Lazarus,” and “Didn’t Know My Own Strength.”

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In the meanwhile, Newark continues to build a name for itself as a go-to location for film scouts, officials say.

According to the Newark Office of Film and Television, more than $250,000 was directly invested in the local economy during a spate of productions that took place between 2023 and 2024. Filming included “American Sports Story: Gladiator,” “Shot Gun Wedding,” “Deliver Me From Nowhere,” “Before (Apple TV series)” and “Rob Peace.”

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