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The satirical comedy, produced by the world’s leading internet television, Netflix and Pitt’s production company, Plan B Entertainment, is inspired by the bestselling book The Operators: The Wild and Terrifying Inside Story of America’s War in Afghanistan by the late American journalist Michael Hastings. The film stars Brad Pitt, Anthony Michael Hall, Will Poulter and Topher Grace.

The team behind War Machine arrived in Abu Dhabi in August to set up the production office in advance of the UAE filming, which began in Abu Dhabi in October. Streets around the Abu Dhabi Media compound were transformed in order to create a fictional American embassy in Kabul. The production also filmed at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), the Abu Dhabi New York Film Academy and in remote areas of the Abu Dhabi desert.

Noura Al Kaabi, twofour54’s CEO said: “We were delighted to host Plan B Entertainment’s War Machine in the UAE, facilitating the filming across 20 different locations. twofour54 worked incredibly hard behind the scenes to make sure that everything went to plan for the production team during this leg of filming.

Al Kaabi added: “Hosting War Machine would not be made possible without the collaboration of the UAE’s government entities, especially the military which helped in securing shooting locations and providing support throughout the production.”

The film included 500 extras representing 20-plus nationalities. In partnership with twofour54, the production gave the opportunity for seven young Emirati interns to work on the set of the film, the biggest number to ever work on a feature film in Abu Dhabi to date. War Machine also benefited from the Abu Dhabi Film Commission’s 30% cashback production rebate.

In addition to War Machine, Abu Dhabi has attracted a number of major film productions in recent years including Star Wars: The Force Awakens which is due for release next month as well as Fast & Furious 7, Bang Bang! and Baby.

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