Sci-Fi Movie Filmed in Redding Made Its World Premiere on February 2
- Elisa Ballard
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
“The Dresden Sun” Starring Christina Ricci Opens in Theaters February 6, 2026
Filmed predominantly in Redding, CA, in 2021, “The Dresden Sun” (2026), an indie sci-fi heist thriller starring Christina Ricci, made its world premiere at the Cinemark Theatre in Redding on Monday evening, February 2. Tickets were free, sponsored by Grocery Outlet in Weed, CA, with director Michael Ryan and producer Tyler Lockamy of Archetype Pictures on hand for a post-screening Q&A.
Attending the premiere was Redding local Abigail Young Ballard (“Abi”)* who was recruited, along with two other seamstresses, Alex Gribner and Lori Jacobson, from the Redding Fashion Alliance to assist costume designer, Tia Lui, with the project. Abi was thrilled to be able to work on costumes for the movie and attend the premiere. To commemorate the occasion, Abi designed a special costume for herself to wear. The anticipation was palpable as the audience eagerly took in the cyberpunk-inspired action film.
The story centers on a principled mercenary (Steven Ogg) who partners with an insider to heist a mysterious artifact called "the sphere" from a powerful corporation, unleashing corporate espionage, betrayal, and survival struggles in a high-tech dystopia. Christina Ricci and Mena Suvari star in key lead roles, joined by Linus Roache, Samantha Win, and others in the ensemble cast. Producer Lockamy also appears in an acting role. Local Shasta County artists contributed to set designs, and about 50 area "extras" appear in scenes.
Approximately 95% of the film was shot on location in Redding and Shasta County — including downtown (e.g., Market Street), the Redding Civic Auditorium, City Hall, and other spots — marking the largest-scale film production in the region's history and bringing significant economic buzz with crew, trucks, and trailers.
Director Michael Ryan developed the project over more than a decade, with principal photography wrapping in 2022 after 41 days of shooting, followed by three years of intensive post-production for its heavy visual effects. This ambitious follow-up to his earlier works (like Interpreters, 2019) has a sequel in the works.
The Dresden Sun opens today (February 6, 2026) in limited theaters across the Northwest — including Trinity in Weaverville and Mt. Shasta — plus select Los Angeles-area venues, before streaming on Amazon Prime later.
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