Shooting in Dubai on Jackie Chan's Kung Fu Yoga moved to Business Bay on Thursday, October 8, at the intersection of Burj Khalifa Street and Abraj Street in the shadow of the world's tallest building. A section of Burj Khalifa Boulevard was also closed to traffic for the day, and a temporary catering facility and trailers appeared to have been set up for the cast and crew a short drive away behind the Burj Khalifa.
After the martial arts scene shot last week at Atlantis, The Palm, things have taken on something of a Furious 7 tone.
The crew were on set near the Burj Khalifa from early in the morning, with most of the day dedicated to filming another car chase scene featuring two of the cars we’d already spotted during last weekend’s shoot – a McLaren and Lamborghini, both yellow – while a new cast member joined the line up today in the shape of a two-tone Bugatti Veyron.
A small crowd of office workers from the nearby Metropolitan Building had gathered to watch the show as the cars were delivered and readied for the day’s action. Security guards kept the public off the set and regularly patrolled the excited audience to make sure no one was taking photos.
By the time the actual shooting began, the crowd had grown to around 40 people, and the security crew and police took the decision to move them away from the action.
Innumerable takes and retakes were shot of a three-car chase scene, with the Bugatti and Lamborghini acting as police cars with blue lights flashing, chasing the McLaren away from the direction of the Burj Khalifa.
While we didn’t catch a glimpse of Chan, we did overhear a crew member telling someone in the crowd that he was due on set “after lunch”. It could easily have been the martial arts superstar behind the tinted windows of one of the supercars.
The film, when it hits cinemas, should be interesting to witness – the irresistible combination of supercars, kung-fu and Chan’s trademark humour is certain to be a hit.
cnewbould@thenational.ae
