When you think of Las Vegas, what comes to mind? Neon lights, Elvis impersonators, all-you-can-eat buffets? How about Alaska? Nope, that probably doesn’t make the list. But here’s the twist: Mark Wahlberg’s new thriller, Flight Risk, set in the rugged wilderness of Alaska, was mostly filmed in—wait for it—Las Vegas. Yep, Sin City has officially added “frozen tundra” to its acting résumé.
How Las Vegas became Alaska for ‘Flight Risk’
Flight Risk hits screens on January 24, 2025, and the plot sounds like something straight out of a nail-biting adventure book. It’s about a mob accountant, Winston (played by Topher Grace), who gets arrested and needs to be escorted across Alaska’s dangerous terrain by U.S. Deputy Marshal Madolyn Harris (Michelle Dockery). Mark Wahlberg plays Daryl Booth, the brave pilot in charge of navigating this treacherous journey.
But here’s the kicker: despite all the snowy Alaskan vibes, almost the entire movie was filmed in Las Vegas, with a few scenes shot at Mesquite airport.
Why Las Vegas? It’s not just casinos anymore
If you’ve ever walked the Strip, it’s probably hard to imagine it standing in for a cold, remote wilderness. But according to Wahlberg, Vegas is one of the most versatile filming locations out there. In a recent interview, he said, “You could have a movie set anywhere and shoot it in Vegas.”
And Wahlberg would know—he’s practically a Vegas local. Back in August 2022, he packed up his family and moved to the city. Since then, he’s been a loud-and-proud cheerleader for turning Las Vegas into a top-tier film production hub. With support from heavyweights like Sony Entertainment, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Howard Hughes Holdings, he’s helping shine a spotlight on Vegas’ potential beyond poker chips and pool parties.
The missing piece: Film tax incentives
Let’s talk money—because, let’s be real, that’s what Hollywood really cares about. Right now, Las Vegas isn’t exactly the cheapest place to film. Sure, it has sunshine and endless possibilities, but Nevada’s lack of competitive tax credits has been holding things back.
According to Kim Spurgeon, director of the Nevada Film Office, the dream of making Vegas a movie hub isn’t new. But it keeps getting stuck. “If I had a nickel for every time someone said they were going to build a studio in Las Vegas, I’d have well over a dollar,” Spurgeon joked.
Here’s why tax credits matter: back in 1992, Louisiana introduced rebates to attract film projects. It worked like a charm, and other states soon followed. Even big-budget productions that seem tailor-made for Las Vegas—like the comedy Last Vegas—chose to film elsewhere (fun fact: they recreated a Vegas nightclub in Atlanta to save cash).
But there’s hope on the horizon. Nevada lawmakers are gearing up to revisit the state’s film tax incentives during the legislative session starting February 3, 2025. Industry insiders, like Chuck Akin from Vū Las Vegas, think these changes could finally tip the scales. “When it goes through, it will be good for everybody,” he said.
How ‘Flight Risk’ pulled off its Alaskan illusion
So, how did Flight Risk make Vegas look like the icy Alaskan wilderness? Enter some seriously high-tech wizardry. The production team used cutting-edge LED screens and virtual production techniques to create jaw-dropping visuals.
At LMG Touring & Entertainment, a local facility in Vegas, they set up a modified Cessna 208B Grand Caravan on a 10-foot gimbal (basically a giant moving platform). Surrounding the plane were 1,830 LED panels showing helicopter footage of Alaska’s stunning landscapes. It’s like turning a concert rehearsal space into a blockbuster movie set—because, well, that’s exactly what they did.
According to Craig Mitchell, LMG’s managing director, the facility has hosted everything from Super Bowl commercials to rehearsals for bands like The Killers.
And LMG isn’t the only high-tech studio in town. Over at Vū Las Vegas, filmmakers can use something called Volume technology (pioneered by Industrial Light & Magic). Think real-time backgrounds that look so realistic, you’d swear they were the real thing. Nicolas Cage’s Sympathy for the Devil recently used the same tech for its Las Vegas-based scenes.
The future of filmmaking in Las Vegas
Thanks to this new tech, Flight Risk was filmed in just 22 days. Wahlberg sees this as a game-changer. “With technology, there isn’t anything you can’t do,” he said. And he’s betting big that Las Vegas will become a major player in the film industry.
He’s not alone. If the upcoming tax credits pass, the city could see a flood of productions in the coming years. And that’s not just good news for Hollywood—it could also mean more jobs and opportunities for locals.
As Wahlberg puts it,
“I really feel like the business is prime for a new hub to create all this opportunity. And I think it will become one of the most important industries in the state of Nevada.”
So, next time you think of Vegas, don’t just picture poker tables and pool parties. Picture snow-covered mountains, high-tech studios, and maybe even the next big Hollywood blockbuster.
What do you think? Can Vegas pull it off? If Wahlberg’s right, we could be seeing a lot more “Made in Las Vegas” credits rolling at the end of movies soon.
