“Tomorrowland” films in Tomorrowland as Walt Disney World welcomes movie studio crew to shoot in Carousel of Progress

in Disney, Entertainment, Walt Disney World

Brad Bird’s highly-anticipated film “Tomorrowland” has landed in a filming location that couldn’t be more fitting: Tomorrowland. Today at Walt Disney World, film crews have descended upon the classic Carousel of Progress attraction to shoot interiors with some of the movie’s stars.

George Clooney isn’t on set, but Thomas Robinson is there along with a crowd of extras donning ’60s style costumes. Though there is a shroud of mystery surrounding exactly what “Tomorrowland” is about, it’s clear that it will, at least in part, take place at the 1964-65 World’s Fair and the shots filmed at Walt Disney World today will likely be used to portray the Carousel of Progress as it first appeared there.

The first days of shooting of “Tomorrowland” in Vancouver brought a thorough recreation of that World’s Fair. And the Carousel of Progress played an important role in The Optimist, the alternate reality game Disney used to promote the film.

Guests at the Magic Kingdom today can’t see too much of the filming, hidden by shrubbery and taking place inside the temporarily closed attraction. But some of the extras and crew have been spotted (and photographed) throughout the day, including folding chairs for the movie’s stars. In addition to Robinson, other celebrities who may be in attendance include Britt Robertson, Hugh Laurie, and/or Tim McGraw.

The official plot synopsis of “Tomorrowland” is:

Bound by a shared destiny, a bright, optimistic teen bursting with scientific curiosity and a former boy-genius inventor jaded by disillusionment embark on a danger-filled mission to unearth the secrets of an enigmatic place somewhere in time and space that exists in their collective memory as ‘Tomorrowland.’

It seems the film will bounce between present day and the past, and perhaps even an alternate timeline depending on how much the story of “The Optimist” game fits in (likely a lot). Brad Bird and co-writer Damon Lindelof didn’t reveal much else, remaining quite cryptic on stage at the 2013 D23 Expo.

Just a few days ago, Disney moved the release date of “Tomorrowland” back to May 22, 2015, so fans will have to wait even longer to find out what it all means. Filming continues in Central Florida this week in New Smyrna Beach.

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