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'17 Bridges' Star Chadwick Boseman Films Scene In Rittenhouse Square

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PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — It was a busy night in Center City as actor Chadwick Boseman filmed for his new movie "17 Bridges."

Eyewitness News was in Rittenhouse early Tuesday morning as the cast and crew shot one of the biggest scenes for the movie.

CBS3's Matt Petrillo hid out with Philly paparazzo HughE Dillon to watch the movie magic unfold from the second-floor story of Unite Fitness, on 20th and Chestnut Streets.

17 bridges movie filming
CBS3's Matt Petrillo and Philly paparazzo HughE Dillon view crews film from the 2nd story floor of Unite Fitness, on 20th and Chestnut Streets. 

This is where CBS3 spotted Boseman filming for the movie.

17 bridges movie filming
Chadwick Boseman

"What it's about is police officers chasing cop killers, and they go to extreme measures and they shut all 17 bridges in New York City," said Philly paparazzo HughE Dillon. "This is a spoiler alert. It takes place in one day."

20th and chestnut movie scene
View from Unite Fitness on 20th and Chestnut Streets. (Credit: CBS3)

An Eyewitness News viewer also shared photos from her apartment above the set.

17 bridges movie filming
Credit: Kaitlyn D'Aguanno
17 bridges movie filming
Credit: Kaitlyn D'Aguanno

CBS3 captured a scene where Boseman could be seen arriving to a crime scene and flashing his badge to get through.

17 bridges filming
Chadwick Boseman arriving to crime scene.

"In this scene tonight there is about 150 extras, about 75 of them are police officers, and the rest are just regular residents in the neighborhood, where this gun battle happens," said HughE Dillon.

The movie actually takes place in New York City, that's why NYFD firetrucks and NYPD police cruisers could be seen on the set.

"This area is supposed to be Brooklyn. We know it as 20th and Sansom, but in the movie it is... in Brooklyn," said Dillon.

The crew also changed the facades of some of Philly's favorite restaurants for the film, like Village Whiskey and Shake Shack. Those are still open during the day, but Tinto, the tapas bar, remains closed until the end of the month. The name has been changed to Mosto's for the movie. On Tinto's website they posted it's closed for a movie production, and even joked it is going to be famous.

Tintos movie 17 bridges closed
Credit: Tintos

"We usually get films for six weeks, but this is two months," said Dillon.

Production is at their halfway point right now. Filming should wrap up a few days after Thanksgiving.

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