Relay is a 2024 American thriller film directed by David Mackenzie and written by Justin Piasecki. Scheduled for theatrical release on August 22, 2025, the movie centers on a corporate fixer named Tom (played by Riz Ahmed), who handles secretive payouts between powerful corporations and whistleblowers. Lily James plays Sarah, a mysterious woman in danger, while Sam Worthington appears as a corporate enforcer.
The film takes viewers into the murky world of corporate deception and clandestine deals, and its sense of realism is heightened by filming in real locations instead of relying on studio sets or stand-in cities. From the start, the production aimed to ground its high-stakes narrative in authentic urban environments. Let’s take a closer look at where Relay was filmed.
WHEN AND WHERE WAS RELAY (2024) FILMED?
Principal photography for Relay began in April 2023. Filming took place primarily in New York City, with additional scenes shot in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Speaking with TheWrap during the Toronto International Film Festival, Sam Worthington expressed his appreciation for the film’s authentic urban energy. “I’m glad that we actually got to shoot in New York, and not like, say, Toronto for New York, or somewhere like that, which normally happens,” Worthington said. “There’s an energy of that place. There’s an energy of the people that feeds into, potentially giving you more of a drive on your story.”
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK
New York City plays a central role in Relay — not just as a setting, but almost as a character in itself. The scenes were probably shot in various locations throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn, which is where city thrillers are often shot.
Specifically near the East River with a view of the—Manhattan Bridge or Brooklyn Bridge at sunset. Director David Mackenzie and actor Sam Worthington both emphasized the city’s impact on the energy and tone of the film. Scenes were also shot on Grand Street, situated in Manhattan’s Lower East Side and Chinatown area. The place shown in the image is New York City, specifically the Lower Manhattan skyline, as seen across the water (likely the Hudson River or New York Harbor).
Director David Mackenzie, making his first film in NYC, noted, “There’s a sort of strong New York flavor there, which I was really intrigued by.” He saw the city’s natural rhythm as integral to the visual tone of the movie. “It’s a very contemporary film, and the sort of flavors of contemporary New York are something we were kind of tapping into.”
TIMES SQUARE, NEW YORK CITY
The production filmed directly in Times Square, one of the world’s most recognizable and busiest intersections. This choice provided a real sense of movement and immediacy, helping to reflect the constant tension in the film’s thriller narrative.
Lily James filming ‘Relay’ in New York with Sam Worthington https://t.co/8MrHcTN1WR pic.twitter.com/nY7rMRbuU4
— Miss Lily James (@lilyjamescom) April 22, 2023
Director David Mackenzie, making his first film in NYC, noted, “There’s a sort of strong New York flavor there, which I was really intrigued by.” He saw the city’s natural rhythm as integral to the visual tone of the movie. “It’s a very contemporary film, and the sort of flavors of contemporary New York are something we were kind of tapping into.”
NEWARK LIBERTY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Several airport scenes were filmed at Newark Airport, allowing the production to ground the characters’ movements in a space that feels both anonymous and high-stakes. The choice to film in real, active locations enhances the movie’s raw realism.
JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY
Just across the river from Manhattan, Jersey City served as another primary filming location. Worthington confirmed, “We shot in alleyways in New Jersey — we were going at such a pace that it feeds back into the visual nature of a thriller.” These sequences added grit and texture, matching the film’s tense and shadowy themes.
Speaking with TheWrap during the Toronto International Film Festival, Sam Worthington expressed his appreciation for the film’s authentic urban energy. “I’m glad that we actually got to shoot in New York, and not like, say, Toronto for New York, or somewhere like that, which normally happens,” Worthington said. “There’s an energy of that place. There’s an energy of the people that feeds into, potentially giving you more of a drive on your story.”
BEHIND THE SCENES: SHOOTING WITH URGENCY
According to Worthington, the pace of production was fast and focused. The team moved quickly through tight schedules in live environments, using handheld cameras and minimal setups to keep the tension alive. “We were going at such a pace… it feeds back into the visual nature of a thriller,” Worthington told Steve Pond at TIFF.
While Worthington’s character had minimal lines written in the script, the actor embraced a spontaneous approach. “It wasn’t much on the page,” he said. “I discussed with David. I said, ‘Look, just, let’s see where it takes us.’”
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