The company behind a planned motion picture release starring Al Pacino and Vince Vaughn has applied for tax credits to film in Las Vegas.
Easy’s Waltz is set to be the feature-length directorial debut of acclaimed True Detective creator Nic Pizzolatto.
It will follow Pacino as an entertainment manager who revives the career of Vaughn’s middle-aged Vegas lounge crooner.
This week, EW Films applied for tax deductions under the Nevada Transferable Tax Credit Program. That comes ahead of the anticipated start of filming next month.
Locations listed in the application include Wynn Resorts’ flagship, Wynn Las Vegas. The luxury resort was recently voted the best casino hotel in Sin City for the third year in a row by Travel & Tourism magazine.
“Tourism will also be bolstered through the presence of iconic celebrities spending time in the state, namely Al Pacino and Vince Vaughn,” EW Films said in the tax credits application.
“Additionally, the content of the film itself advertises the glamorous nature of Las Vegas shows, making the movie’s audience more likely to visit the state of Nevada.”
What Happens in Vegas
Hollywood A-listers Vaughn and Pacino both have a cinematic history with Las Vegas.
Pacino was part of an ensemble cast in popular heist caper Ocean’s Thirteen in 2006. The story followed, what else, a daring heist at a giant new mega casino resort on opening night. Pacino played the subtly named villain, casino owner Willy Banks.
Vaughn got his first major role in Hollywood with the 1996 movie Swingers. Which, for a large part, was set in Las Vegas. Several memorable scenes were filmed at the Fremont Hotel and Casino in downtown Sin City.
Easy’s Waltz has another Las Vegas connection. The film’s co-producer, Todd Philips, also directed cult classic party movie The Hangover, which follows the fallout from a very heavy Vegas night out.
Easy Shoot
The new movie will be filming in the city for five weeks, pending this final tax credit approval.
It will employ 50 local crew and cast members, including extras and technical behind-the-scenes jobs.
The production company pitched the movie as a “love letter to the city and its workers” in the application.
The film will also see True Detective star Michelle Monaghan reunite with director Pizzolatto and Simon Rex. In another interesting connection, Rex was actually featured in The Hangover, but as a rapper, not an actor, under the alias Dirt Nasty.
As well as at the Wynn Las Vegas, filming for Easy’s Waltz will also take place on location at El Cortez on Fremont Street.
David is an online casino expert who specializes in online slots and boasts over 10 years experience writing about iGaming. He has written for a wide range of notable publications, including eSports Insider and WordPlay Magazine.
David graduated Derby University with a BA Degree in English Literature and Creative Writing.