Amazon Prime Video’s hit series “Reacher” began production of Season 4 over the weekend, in PHILADELPHIA!!!, as I mentioned on my IG Sunday.
Monday morning I headed to Rittenhouse Square’s to see where they were filming. The signage said there would be road closures between 6am and 11am on 18th and Locust Streets, so I figured 9am would be a perfect time to see what was happening because by then the rehearsal for the scenes would be over and they the actual stars of the show would be filming and not their stand ins (For those new here, I have been a celebrity photographer/paparazzi for nearly 20 years. Working in NYC for 6 of those years.)
Perfect it was an al fresco dining scene at Stephen Starr’s Parc Rittenhouse restaurant. The scene was him dining curbside, as a police chase ensued in the street next to the famed eatery. I am not at all familiar with the show, never saw it, and never heard of the actors, ( I’m watching the first season as I write this, and it is sooo good.)
Tip: Before I left to go do this shoot I pulled up the lead characters photos to study what they looked like.
The fourth season of “Reacher” is based on the 13th book in Lee Child’s global best-selling Jack Reacher novel series, “Gone Tomorrow.” Per Amazon’s description, “When a chance encounter with a distraught stranger on a train goes horribly wrong, Jack Reacher is drawn into a complex and deadly game that pits him against ruthless foes from the highest echelons of power.” On Sunday Reacher filmed at 27th and Pennsylvania on the train tracks, and Monday afternoon they filmed at the Rail Park at Noble Street in North Philly.
After Alan Ritchson wrapped a street scene with police cars pulling up to the restaurant, a line of black SUVs rolled up, and I was thinking did they just add these as the other 2 takes didn’t feature black SUVS ; and out stepped Joe, Hunter and Jill Biden. The crew started cheering, someone shouted ‘We love you, Joe!’ — I honestly thought they were filming a finale until I saw the former president head into the restaurant.
Turns out, the President just wanted some eggs. The Bidens spent about an hour inside Parc, chatting with the Reacher crew and posing for photos, giving everyone on set and nearby a completely unexpected crossover moment.
As Biden exited the restaurant, the cast, crew and dog walkers in the park broke out in cheers and applause. Biden thanked the local Philly police for their service, shook hands and posed for selfies on the way back to his car.
Filming rolled on for another 30 minutes before the Reacher crew packed up and headed to their next stop — the Rail Park. I’ve gotta say, I get the hype now… no wonder my friend Dee is obsessed with this show! Stay tuned for more behind-the-scenes snaps. Word is they’ll be filming in Philly for another week — but in true Reacher fashion, they won’t be staying in one place for long.
CHECK OUT CBSPhilly for video of Biden and Reacher filming yesterday outside of Parc. An interview with my, someone who badly needs a haircut!!
Were you and EXTRA on the Parc shoot yesterday? You’re photo might be here.