Universal Studios’ back lot is rising from the ashes — literally.
The studio on Thursday will unveil its refurbished New York street movie sets that burned down in a fire nearly two years ago, which comes as welcome news to the local production community at a time when Los Angeles is struggling to keep movie and TV shoots from leaving the state. After all, New York is L.A.’s biggest rival and is gearing up to expand its film tax credits.
Location managers have long awaited the reopening of the 13-block New York area, the largest of its kind in Hollywood. Spanning a quarter of a mile, the section offers a number of familiar locations from the Big Apple, including a version of the Trump Tower, the Macy’s building and Radio City Music Hall. The area also features a rebuilt Courthouse Square made famous in the “Back to the Future” films and a street re-created to resemble 19th-century London.
Full story: Universal to unveil New York street set renovation – latimes.com