The production employed more than 700 New Mexicans, including crew members, principal cast and background performers, according to the New Mexico Film Office

Organ Mountain News report

LAS CRUCES - The action thriller “Barracuda,” starring Anthony Mackie, has wrapped filming in Las Cruces after employing more than 700 New Mexicans during production, according to the New Mexico Film Office.

The production filmed for nearly two months at locations in and around Las Cruces.

According to the New Mexico Film Office, the production employed about 80 New Mexico crew members, 29 New Mexico resident principal cast members and more than 600 background performers.

Neil Burger directed the film. Producers include Robert Zemeckis, Kia Jam, Todd Lundbohm and Arianne Fraser.

“Productions like ‘Barracuda’ demonstrate New Mexico’s ability to support large-scale projects across the state,” New Mexico Film Office Director Steve Graham said in a statement. “This project is creating jobs while bringing meaningful production activity to southern New Mexico.”

According to the New Mexico Film Office, the film follows a former wheelman who returns to the criminal world to rescue an abducted woman, leading to a pursuit toward the U.S. border.

“‘Barracuda’ is the perfect production to show off everything Las Cruces has to offer,” state Sen. Jeff Steinborn, president of Film Las Cruces, said in a statement. “From diverse locations to our amazing crew and strong incentives, we are proud to help make productions like this a reality.”

The New Mexico Film Office said film and television production has generated more than $3 billion in direct economic impact in New Mexico over the past five years.