Ethan Hawke, Ewan McGregor Heading To Virginia To Film Apple Studios Feature Film

VIRGINIA — A new film starring actors Ethan Hawke and Ewan McGregor and financially backed by Apple Studios plans to begin shooting in central Virginia this fall, the governor's office said Thursday.

The feature film, “Raymond and Ray,” tells the story of two half brothers who reunite at the funeral of their father.

The crew will be filming in the metro Richmond area, including possibly Hopewell and Petersburg, starting in early October, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported. Filming in Virginia is expected to wrap up around Christmas.

Julie Lynn, a board member for the Virginia Film Festival in Charlottesville and a University of Virginia graduate, is one of the producers. Other producers are Oscar-winner Alfonso Cuarón and Bonnie Curtis.

“Major projects like Raymond and Ray shine a powerful spotlight on and increase awareness of all that Virginia offers,” Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said in a statement Thursday. “We look forward to working with the film’s exceptional team and to the economic benefits a film of this scale will bring to Virginia workers and businesses.”

“Raymond and Ray” will be eligible for a Virginia film tax credit or grant, the governor’s office said. The exact amount will be based on the number of Virginia workers hired, Virginia goods and services purchased, and other metrics, including Virginia tourism promotions.

Recent major projects that have been filmed in Virginia include the feature film “Tapawingo,” the Hulu series “Dopesick,” AMC’s “The Walking Dead: World Beyond,” and Apple TV’s “Swagger.”

“Projects like Raymond and Ray continue to build our profile as a preferred production location, and we eagerly anticipate the expansion of this important Virginia industry,” Secretary of Commerce and Trade Brian Ball said.

In 2019, Hawke filmed the Showtime limited series "The Good Lord Bird" in Virginia, mainly in Powhatan County as well as in Richmond and Petersburg, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

The filmmakers said that attending the Virginia Film Festival made them want to film in Virginia.

“The Virginia Film Office has been amazing, and we’re thrilled to bring ‘Raymond and Ray’ here, with Apple’s support, to take advantage of the gorgeous locations and fall colors,” “Raymond and Ray” director Rodrigo Garcia and producers Alfonso Cuarón, Bonnie Curtis and Julie Lynn said in a joint statement Thursday.

For more information on Virginia’s film production industry, visit the Virginia Film Office website.