In 2025, Rapa Nui — also known as Easter Island — once again became an international film location. This time, the reason was the filming of Wild Horse Nine, a Hollywood production directed by acclaimed filmmaker Martin McDonagh, known for movies such as Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and The Banshees of Inisherin.
The arrival of an international film crew to one of the most remote inhabited islands on Earth generated excitement, debate, and a significant logistical and human mobilization within the local community.
For those of us who live or work on the island, the production was much more than international news. For several weeks, Rapa Nui transformed into a large film set where Hollywood actors, international technicians, and dozens of local workers collaborated side by side.
The Film: A Story Set in Chile
Wild Horse Nine is a dark comedy and political thriller set in Chile in 1973, during the months leading up to the military coup. The story follows two CIA agents, Chris and Lee, who are sent from Santiago to Easter Island on a mission that will test their relationship, loyalty, and past.
The film features a high-profile international cast, including:
They are joined by Latin American actresses:
The production is being developed by Searchlight Pictures in collaboration with Blueprint Pictures and Film4, with a theatrical release scheduled for November 6, 2026.
Director Martin McDonagh had reportedly been interested in the island for years. According to interviews, the mystery surrounding the moai statues and the island’s remote atmosphere inspired him to imagine a story that could unfold in such a unique setting.
Filming on One of the Most Remote Islands in the World
Producing a large-budget film in Rapa Nui presents enormous logistical challenges. The island lies more than 3,500 kilometers (2,100 miles) from mainland South America, which means that equipment, crew members, and technical resources must be transported through carefully coordinated flights and shipments.
For this production, cameras, props, period vehicles, and part of the technical team were brought from abroad and from Santiago.
Filming began between February and March 2025 on Easter Island and later continued in Santiago, where several scenes were shot in different parts of the city, including the airport and urban locations that recreated the atmosphere of Chile in the 1970s.
Coordination with the Community and Heritage Protection
One of the most important aspects of the production was the coordination with Comunidad Indígena Ma’u Henua, the organization responsible for administering Rapa Nui National Park.
Due to the archaeological importance of the territory, filming was carried out under strict heritage protection measures. Archaeologists and cultural specialists were involved in supervising certain parts of the production process.
Additionally, local representatives were present during filming to ensure that the production respected archaeological sites, Rapa Nui culture, and the conservation rules that protect the national park.
This type of coordination was essential for allowing an international production of this scale to take place in a location with such a sensitive cultural and historical heritage.
Local Work and Community Participation
The arrival of the film production also created employment opportunities for members of the local community.
During the weeks of filming, personnel were needed in several areas:
- extras and background actors
- logistical support
- transportation
- tourism services
- local production coordination
- accommodation and hospitality
- catering services
- on-site organization
Professionals from Chile and the island also participated in technical roles within the project, allowing collaboration between international crews and local talent.
Filming days were long and demanding — as they often are in the film industry — but for many island residents it became a unique opportunity to learn about and interact with the world of international cinema.
Our Experience from Easter Island Travel
At Easter Island Travel, we also had the opportunity to experience part of this process up close.
During one of the filming days at Anakena Beach, our daughter Kiara participated as an extra in one of the scenes of the movie. For our family, it was a very special moment to see how an international film production operates on the island where we live and work. The atmosphere on set, with cameras, technical crews, and international actors, generated a lot of curiosity — especially among the children.
Several of our guides also participated in the production in different ways, mainly as extras. For them, it was a unique opportunity to see firsthand how a major film production works. These experiences have now become new stories that they enjoy sharing with travelers during their tours around the island.
Below we share a few photos we took during that day — a small visual record of an experience that has become part of the memories this project left behind.
Mixed Opinions on the Island
As often happens with large-scale projects in culturally sensitive territories, the arrival of a Hollywood production also generated different opinions within the community.
Some people appreciated the economic and employment opportunities that the filming brought, as well as the international visibility it could give to Rapa Nui.
Others expressed concerns about potential cultural impacts, the use of the territory, or the level of media exposure the island might receive.
These kinds of discussions are not new in Rapa Nui, where there is always a strong awareness of the importance of protecting the island’s cultural heritage, natural environment, and the identity of the Rapa Nui people.
Not the First Time Rapa Nui Appears in Cinema
Although Wild Horse Nine is one of the most recent films shot on the island, it is not the first time that Rapa Nui has appeared on the big screen.
One of the best-known examples is the 1994 film Rapa Nui, directed by Kevin Reynolds and produced by Kevin Costner.
The story was inspired by traditional island legends, particularly the Tangata Manu or “Birdman” competition, a ceremonial ritual linked to retrieving the first egg of the manu tara bird from the islet of Motu Nui.
Although the film received criticism for some historical inaccuracies, it addressed important aspects of the island’s past, including the massive deforestation that occurred centuries ago and its consequences for Rapa Nui society.
This earlier production demonstrates that, despite its geographic isolation, the island has long been a source of inspiration for international cinema.
What Could Come Next
If there is one thing that director Martin McDonagh’s films have shown, it is their ability to turn filming locations into destinations of global interest. Previous films by the director have led to increased tourism in the places where they were shot.
For now, Wild Horse Nine is scheduled for release in November 2026, and many details about the full story — and how Rapa Nui will appear on screen — remain unknown.
But for those of us who live on the island, the filming experience has already become part of our recent history.
For several weeks, between cameras, actors, and production crews, Rapa Nui once again became a cinematic stage in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
And this time, many of us had the chance to witness firsthand how a Hollywood movie is made.
Below, you can watch the official trailer of the film to get a first glimpse of this highly anticipated production, partially filmed in Rapa Nui. 🎬
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