Benicio del Toro, Emily Blunt Film Scenes in Violent Mexican City

The film’s producer, Edward McDonnell, said that Mexican settings were chosen to “stamp the movie with scenic realism,” the city council said in a communique.

McDonnell said he needed a Mexican city to develop his story and, after checking out several locations, chose Nezahualcoyotl as “the perfect place.”

He did explain, however, that the choice of locations “had nothing to do with the theme of violence,” and said his decision was based more on what the streets looked like.

He was looking for “an authentic Mexican setting,” he said.

The city of Nezahualcoyotl has been considered by federal authorities and civilian organizations as one of the most violent, together with Naucalpan, Tlanepantla, Ecatepec and Chalco, where a number of criminal organizations operate.

The film’s plot revolves around an FBI agent who investigates a series of murders in Phoenix, Arizona, and along the border with Mexico, and travels to that country to hunt down a drug trafficker.

Actors who have taken part in the shoot are Benicio del Toro, Emily Blunt and Gustavo Sanchez Parra, who have handed out autographs and had their pictures taken with local residents.

McDonnell said the actors have never felt in danger for a single minute, and noted Benicio del Toro’s attachment to Mexico, a country where he has participated in a number of projects.

He also praised the work of the Mexican team that has taken part in the production, including citizens of Nezahualcoyotl who have worked as “extras and have been very cooperative.”

The movie, which will premiere in the fall of 2015, also includes scenes in the town of Naucalpan and others in the eastern state of Veracruz.

The shoot astonished locals over the past three days with police vehicles coming out in force as part of the production.