Albuquerque Studios’ First Western Movie, Lone Ranger, Rides into Theaters this Summer

Albuquerque, NM – June 19, 2013 – Audiences around the world are saddling up for Disney’s release of The Lone Ranger this July starring Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Gore Verbinski. Viewers should know that while watching this film they will be taking a wild ride across New Mexico.

While New Mexico has been home to hundreds of classic Westerns over the years, featuring stars ranging from Paul Newman to Christian Bale, this is in fact the first Western feature to be filmed at Albuquerque Studios (ABQ) since the mega-studio opened in 2007.

ABQ Studios is not unfamiliar with having blockbuster movies filmed at the facility. In addition to The Lone Ranger, Albuquerque Studios has played host to a number of major Hollywood productions, including Marvel’s The Avengers, sci-fi blockbuster Terminator: Salvation, Denzel Washington’s thriller The Book of Eli, Due Date, Fright Night 3D, Gamer, Let Me In, and the cutting-edge, 100% green-screen production of The Spirit. Television classics filmed at the studio include all five seasons of multiple Emmy-award winning AMC drama series Breaking Bad.

In all, the studio has hosted 15 major feature films and more than 82 hours of television drama since opening in 2007. In addition, REELZ, a national cable and satellite network in 67 million homes which is based at the studio, has produced more than 1,000 hours of original programming since relocating its production studios to ABQ in 2009.

The Lone Ranger was filmed across New Mexico in locations such as Abiquiú, Albuquerque, Albuquerque Studios, Angel Fire, Cimarron Canyon State Park, Flying Horse Ranch, Gilman Tunnel, Pajarito Ski Area, Rio Puerco, San Cristobal Ranch, Saddleback Ranch, Santa Clara Pueblo, Shiprock, US 64, Ute Creek Ranch and Valles Caldera National Preserve.

“New Mexico is world renowned for its classic Westerns, so we couldn’t be happier to have been a part of the modern re-telling of the story of The Lone Ranger,” said Dana Arnold, CEO of Pacifica Ventures. “But we want people to know that New Mexico, and ABQ Studios, can do a lot more than just Westerns. From sci-fi to superheroes to contemporary comedies, there’s nothing we can’t handle.”

Pacifica Ventures developed, built and operates the world-class, technologically advanced Albuquerque Studios (ABQ), which opened in Spring 2007 and was expanded in 2008. ABQ features eight massive soundstages, including four 24,000 sq. ft. stages separated by operable partition walls that open up to a massive 48,000 sq. ft. shooting space. Close the big wall, and you can fire off a gunshot, or a nail gun, on one stage without disturbing filming on the other.

It’s no secret. Albuquerque Studios, the city of Albuquerque, and the State of New Mexico have what it takes to accommodate and make the world’s biggest movies.

About Pacifica Ventures:
In addition to Albuquerque Studios, Pacifica Ventures developed, designed and co-manages the new Sun Center Studios outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which opened in September 2011 and recently hosted the Sony Studios’ sci-fi actioner After Earth starring Will and Jaden Smith and Relativity’s upcoming Paranoia.  Pacifica also developed and designed the new Connecticut Studios project, which will break ground in mid 2013. The company’s primary focus is on the worldwide acquisition, development, and operation of production facilities for film and television. Pacifica Ventures serves the major Hollywood studios, as well as the world’s most successful independent producers, and all members of the entertainment community who create, finance, produce and distribute media content. Their mission is to become the dominant provider of first-class, technologically advanced entertainment production facilities in the world.