HBO ANNOUNCES NEW LIMITED SERIES ‘WE OWN THIS CITY’ TO FILM IN MARYLAND
Six-hour production is scheduled to begin filming around Baltimore this June
BALTIMORE, MD (May 19, 2021) — Governor Larry Hogan announced today that the new HBO limited series We Own This City will film in Maryland this summer. Based on the book by Baltimore Sun reporter Justin Fenton, the six-hour series will chronicle the rise and fall of the Baltimore Police Department’s Gun Trace Task Force. Acclaimed novelist and producer, George Pelecanos, and David Simon, a former Baltimore Sun reporter and television writer and producer, will serve as creators of the limited series with Nina K. Noble, Ed Burns, Reinaldo Marcus Green, and Kary Antholis executive producing.
“Maryland has had a long and successful relationship with HBO and we are very excited to welcome them back again,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “Film production has been an important economic generator for our state, creating jobs and fueling revenue for our small businesses, and we are particularly pleased this production will help contribute to Maryland’s economic recovery.”
This is the second film project to be announced in Maryland this month. Earlier this week, The Spook Who Sat By The Door was confirmed to film its pilot episode in Baltimore this spring. Both projects are anticipated to provide major revenue for the state and hire thousands of film industry professionals in the Baltimore region.
We Own This City will have a significant economic impact in the state as they hire Maryland crew, actors, and extras, and utilize local businesses throughout the region. Locations will be in and around Baltimore City, and filming is slated to start in June. Past HBO productions that have filmed in Maryland include: Veep, Game Change, Henrietta Lacks, Something the Lord Made, and David Simon’s The Corner and The Wire.
The series will star Jon Bernthal (The Accountant, The Walking Dead), Jamie Hector (Queen of the South, Bosch), and Baltimore native Josh Charles (The Good Wife, Sports Night). This will be a homecoming for Josh, as his first film role was in John Waters’ Hairspray in 1988. Directing all six episodes will be Reinaldo Marcus Green (Monsters and Men and the upcoming King Richard starring Will Smith).
“We are proud of our Maryland Film Office’s efforts, and our partnership with the Baltimore Film Office to bring this limited series here,” said Maryland Commerce Secretary Kelly M. Schulz. “We look forward to continuing to work with our City partners to ensure We Own This City has a positive experience during production.” “Baltimore is a vibrant center for film production and we welcome the opportunity to have this HBO limited series in our City,” said Debbie Dorsey, director of the Baltimore Film Office. “A show like this puts our local crew and actors back to work and supports our small businesses at a time when it’s really needed.”
About the Maryland Film Office
The Maryland Film Office aims to attract productions to film on-location in the state of Maryland, as well as support the state’s local film community. The office’s goal is to make the process of filming in Maryland as easy as possible, by providing location scouting and pre-production research, in addition to acting as a government and community liaison throughout film production. For more information on available tax credits, visit marylandfilm.org.
About Maryland Commerce
The Maryland Department of Commerce stimulates private investment and creates jobs by attracting new businesses, encouraging the expansion and retention of existing companies, and providing financial assistance to Maryland companies. The Department promotes the State’s many economic advantages and markets local products and services at home and abroad to spur economic development and international investment, trade and tourism. Because they are major economic generators, the Department also supports the Arts, film production, sports and other special events. For more information, visit commerce.maryland.gov.
