“Jack Reacher: Never Go Back” is a 2016 American action-thriller film directed by Edward Zwick and written by Zwick, Richard Wenk, and Marshall Herskovitz. It is based on Lee Child’s 2013 novel of the same name and is a sequel to the 2012 film “Jack Reacher.” The film stars Tom Cruise and Cobie Smulders, with a supporting cast that includes Patrick Heusinger, Aldis Hodge, Danika Yarosh, Holt McCallany, and Robert Knepper. The story follows Reacher as he teams up with an Army major framed for espionage to uncover a dark conspiracy. The film grossed $162 million worldwide and received mixed reviews from critics, who praised Cruise’s performance and the action sequences but criticized the plot.
Where was “Jack Reacher: Never Go Back” Filmed?
Principal photography began on October 20, 2015, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Filming also took place in Baton Rouge and St. Francisville, with production wrapping up on January 30, 2016. Here is a detailed look at the filming locations used in the movie.
Beginning Scene: The film starts with Tom Cruise’s character getting into a fight with local police officers in a small town. This town is actually LaPlace in St. John the Baptist Parish, just outside New Orleans. The scene was filmed at an old coffee shop that was cleaned up for the movie. Next door, you can see the Troxie Motel, which is still open on Airline Highway.
Lafayette Square: In the film, there are scenes set in Washington, D.C., where Tom Cruise and Cobie Smulders are seen running away. Although it looks like Washington, D.C., these scenes were actually filmed at Lafayette Square in New Orleans. To create the look of D.C., the film also used streets in Baton Rouge and mixed in exterior shots of real D.C. locations.
The Old U.S. Customhouse: The film includes scenes in federal office buildings that are supposed to be in Washington, D.C. In reality, these scenes were shot at the old U.S. Customhouse on Canal Street in New Orleans. This building has a style that resembles D.C. architecture, and some scenes were also filmed at various buildings in Baton Rouge.
NASA-Bound: Some scenes required special sound stages, which were built at Big Easy Studios in New Orleans East, specifically at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility. The parking lot at this facility was used for a scene where characters are escaping from a prison and find themselves surrounded by black government cars.
Evergreen Plaza Inn: Midway through the film, there’s a scene where Tom Cruise and Cobie Smulders stay at a motel with a view of the Washington Monument. However, this motel is actually the Evergreen Plaza Inn on Veterans Memorial Boulevard in Metairie. The Washington Monument was added digitally during post-production.
Local Eateries: For a diner scene early in the film, the production used a local eatery called Ted’s Frostop on Calhoun Street in Uptown New Orleans. Later, they also filmed at an IHOP location.
Crossing Over: In one scene, the characters meet at the Gov. Nicholls Street Wharf to hand over a witness. This scene was filmed in Algiers, across the river from New Orleans, at an old shipyard that no longer operates.
The Krewe of Boo: The film features the Krewe of Boo parade, which takes place in the French Quarter during Halloween. This parade is shown in the film as part of a chase scene. The production filmed the real 2015 Krewe of Boo parade and then recreated parts of it to finish the scene.
Bird’s-Eye View: The film includes several shots of the French Quarter, including a chase across rooftops. Most of these rooftop scenes were filmed on actual buildings in the historic French Quarter. The final part of the rooftop chase was shot on a soundstage at Big Easy Studios.
School Scenes: For scenes set in an elite private school in Washington, D.C., the filmmakers actually used Metairie Park Country Day School in the New Orleans area. This location stood in for the D.C.-area school where the characters seek safety.
This detailed look at the filming locations for Jack Reacher: Never Go Back highlights how the movie cleverly used various New Orleans locations to stand in for Washington, D.C.
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Jack Reacher: Never Go Back
Q: Where was Jack Reacher: Never Go Back filmed?
A: Jack Reacher: Never Go Back was primarily filmed in New Orleans, Louisiana. The city served as the main backdrop for the film, with additional scenes shot in nearby areas such as Baton Rouge and Metairie. Some scenes were also filmed at the old U.S. Custom House and Big Easy Studios in New Orleans East.
Q: When was Jack Reacher: Never Go Back filmed?
A: The filming of Jack Reacher: Never Go Back began on October 20, 2015, and concluded on January 30, 2016. The production took place over these months to capture various locations and scenes necessary for the film.
Q: When was Jack Reacher: Never Go Back released?
A: Jack Reacher: Never Go Back was released on October 21, 2016. The film premiered in theaters in the United States and other countries around this date.
Q: Did Jack Reacher: Never Go Back film in Washington, D.C.?
A: No, despite the film being set in Washington, D.C., the actual filming did not take place there. Instead, scenes meant to represent D.C. were filmed in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, with some locations like Lafayette Square and the old U.S. Custom House used to create the illusion of the nation’s capital.
Q: What other locations were used in the film besides New Orleans?
A: Besides New Orleans, the film used locations such as Big Easy Studios for indoor scenes and the Evergreen Plaza Inn in Metairie to stand in for a motel. The Krewe of Boo parade and the rooftops of the French Quarter were also featured in the film, adding to the local color and atmosphere.
