Turkish Airlines ‘The Journey' pays homage to the city of Istanbul

The film is the story of a chase across the city's iconic landmarks. The film was shown first at Super Bowl LIII on February 3

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Acclaimed filmmaker Ridley Scott has teamed up with Turkish Airlines to direct a cinematic short film set in Istanbul, where East and West meet. ‘The Journey’, the story of a chase across the city’s iconic landmarks, was shown at Super Bowl LIII on February 3, paying homage to the ancient city of Istanbul, the airline’s hub for 85 years, spanning the continents of Europe and Asia.

Turkish Airlines debuted with the ‘Batman v Superman’ campaign with the leading role played by Ben Affleck in 2016. Then came the ‘Widen Your World’ campaign in which Morgan Freeman invited the global audience to widen their world in 2017. The ‘Five Senses’ campaign was fronted by Dr. Oz, who explored the wonders of the world through five senses, visiting some of the most unique places around the globe that Turkish Airlines flies to in 2018.  

M İlker Aycı, Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, said, “When viewers tuned into the Super Bowl on Sunday, they were treated to a stunning portrayal of Istanbul in this thrilling film from Ridley Scott. We invite travellers around the world to join us on our journey and experience the true Turkish hospitality at our brand new home at Istanbul Airport.”

Scott directed his first commercial in 15 years, and RSA Films produced, to mark the opening of Istanbul Airport, the new home of Turkish Airlines. ‘The Journey’ showcases Istanbul as the hub of Turkish Airlines and the new centre of aviation for global travellers, which will be the world’s largest aviation hub with an annual capacity of 200 million passengers. Flying to more countries than any other airline, Turkish Airlines currently connects 306 destinations in 124 countries, which will expand as it moves its hub from the current Istanbul Ataturk Airport to the newly opened Istanbul Airport.

Director and Producer Ridley Scott said, “Istanbul is an inspiring city to build a story around with its beautiful topography surrounded by water. The city is a powerful backdrop to the story that brings together the main characters in an exciting and spectacular way, much as Istanbul has done for generations.”

Sylvia Hoeks, known for her role in Blade Runner 2049, plays the leading role alongside key Istanbul sights such as Çırağan Palace, Basilica Cistern, Ortaköy Square and Istanbul Airport.  Istanbul Airport hosted the shooting with a cast of 250 people while the film in total starred 500 actors. The scenes at the airport portray Turkish Airlines’ cabin crew wearing their new uniforms as well as innovations in inflight cabin design.

Four promotional versions and a six-minute cinematic short film were created as well as a behind-the-scenes special that details the entire experience, including interviews with the director and cast. Previous high-profile Turkish Airlines collaborations include sports stars Lionel Messi and Kobe Bryant, actor Morgan Freeman and Kevin Costner, and ‘The Journey’ stars actresses Sylvia Hoeks and AureAtika.

The Video Film:

Turkish Airlines The Journey Istanbul