Boston Marathon Movie's Shootout Will Not Film in Watertown

WATERTOWN, MA - ‘Patriots Day,’ the Mark Wahlberg-helmed film about the Boston marathon bombings and law enforcement’s hunt for Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, will not be able to shoot in Watertown.

According to local website Watertown News, Town Manager Michael Driscoll announced today that CBS Films would look for another location to re-create the shootout between police officers and the Tsarnaev brothers. CBS Films had originally hoped to film the scene at the intersection of Dexter Avenue and Laurel Street in Watertown, where the firefight occurred three years ago.

Driscoll said in his announcement that filming in Watertown would not be in the best interest of its residents, the Watertown News said.

Earlier this week, news of CBS Films’ proposal sparked heated debate amongst residents; some believed it was inappropriate, while others argued that a faithful recreation of events would honor law enforcement.

‘Patriots Day’ stars Mark Wahlberg as Boston police detective Danny Keeler and J.K. Simmons as Watertown Police Sgt. Jeffrey Pugliese. It is set to start filming in Boston next month.