'Furious 7': Behind the scene footage starring Abu Dhabi [video]

As the UAE accelerates toward the global release of ‘Fast and Furious 7’ or ‘FF7’ on April 2, here’s some new behind-the-scenes footage of the Hollywood crew’s film shoot in Abu Dhabi, including the now infamous Etihad Towers stunt.

Production house twofour54 has released a UAE exclusive featurette that showcases the best locations in Abu Dhabi and exclusive interviews with the cast and crew while filming in the capital, with locations including Yas Island, the Liwa Desert and the Emirates Palace hotel.

The release comes ahead of the blockbuster’s world premiere in Los Angeles on April 1, which will be attended by the film’s cast and crew as well as international teams who have worked on the production overseas.

James Wan, director of the film, says in the clip: “Here we are at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi. It’s a little different to what the ‘Fast and Furious’ franchise has seen in the past. We are one of the first Hollywood films to showcase Abu Dhabi for Abu Dhabi and we cannot be more excited to be here.”

Commenting on the cast’s experience, Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges, one of the film’s main stars says: “When I arrived in Abu Dhabi, I say that falls right in line with where we need to be.”

Michelle Rodriguez, who has visited the UAE several times in the past, is seen saying: “I went to Abu Dhabi two years ago, and all questions I got when are they bringing a ‘Fast and furious’ to Abu Dhabi?”

Directed by Wan, production for the film first commenced in November 2013 and was the latest major Hollywood production to be filmed in Abu Dhabi, while receiving a 30 per cent rebate on qualifying spend in the emirate.

The Abu Dhabi production commenced when the film’s visual effects unit came to the UAE’s capital to secure helicopter shots, stunt footage and a variety of visual effects work.

Later in the project, approximately 120 cast and crew, including actors Vin Diesel, Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson and Ludacris, joined the crew.

The most talked about scene in the film is of course Diesel’s own car stunt that sees him spin a supercar that shatters through the glass wall of one of the two structures of Etihad Towers.

Speaking about the stunt on this video, Diesel is caught saying: “Crazy right? No one has ever seen this before.”

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