Julia Roberts Movie Begins Filming In Riverhead

WADING RIVER, NY — It was lights, camera, action in Wading River Thursday as filming began in Wading River for a new Netflix movie starring Julia Roberts that's slated to film at several locations around town this week.

Although Roberts wasn't spotted Thursday on Hulse Landing Road, where filming was taking place, her co-star Ethan Hawke was reportedly on set, according to the Riverhead News-Review.

Netflix began filming ""Leave the World Behind," in April on Long Island — with first stops in the Lloyd Neck section of the Village of Lloyd Harbor, in the town of Huntington, Newsday reported.

According to Variety, Julia Roberts stars in the family drama, based on the Rumaan Alam novel.

Variety added: "'Leave the World Behind' is a story about two families, strangers to each other, who are forced together on a long weekend gone terribly wrong. . .The story explores the complexities of parenthood, race, and class — along with how our closest bonds are reshaped in moments of crisis."

According to Deadline, Hawke and "Industry" star Myha'la Herrold are starring with Roberts and Mahershala Ali in the Netflix thriller, with "Mr. Robot" creator Sam Esmail directing and adapting the novel. Ryan Kiera Armstrong and Charlie Evans are also on board, Deadline said.

Denzel Washington was initially slated to star alongside Roberts, but later, it was announced that Ali would be taking the role, Newsday said.

The film will be produced by Roberts through her Red Om Films, and Esmail and Chad Hamilton through Esmail Corp; Red Om's Lisa Gillan and Marisa Yeres Gill are producers, Deadline said; Alam will executive produce.

According to Netflix, the film is based on Alam's novel. The book was published in October 2020 and was a finalist for the 2020 National Book Awards; Alam's work has also garnered other accolates, including having been named A Best Book of the Year by The Washington Post, NPR, Time, Esquire and Elle, Deadline reported.

A resolution passed 5 to 0 by the Riverhead town board stated that Netflix Productions, LLC is expected to film for a period of two days this week, with one rain day, if needed.

Filming is slated for four separate locations around Riverhead: Hulse Landing Road, between Sound Avenue and New York State Route 25A in Wading River; Sound Avenue, between East Winds Drive and Hulse Landing Road; Twomey Avenue, between Sound Avenue and Youngs Avenue; and Horton Avenue, between Reeves Avenue and Sound Avenue, the resolution said.

Netflix will also require the assistance of Riverhead Town Police regarding road closures, traffic control and escort, the resolution said; the town will be paid $75,000 for the film production.

A publicist for Netflix told Patch that she could not confirm the Riverhead shoot, as filming location information is never released, both "for security, and to minimize any disturbance to the neighborhood."