Production crews have overtaken the picturesque Greek island of Hydra, transforming its car-free port into a sprawling Hollywood set as filming for the anticipated thriller "The Riders," starring Brad Pitt, is set to begin Friday.
The arrival of the production has turned the quiet island into a hive of activity.
A vintage yellow "Flying Dolphin" hydrofoil—a staple of Greek island travel in the 1980s—has been docked in the harbor for key sequences, while set decorators have dressed the historic clock tower and the popular "Loulou" taverna for the shoot.
"The area has already been dressed for the shoot," said Mr. Giorgos Vallis, president of the Panhellenic Union of Crews of Private and Professional Yachts. "The first scenic constructions arrived by ship, and everything is ready for the cameras to roll."
Directed by Edward Berger—fresh off the success of "All Quiet on the Western Front"—the film is based on the novel by Tim Winton.
It follows a man’s desperate search for his missing wife across Europe.
While Mr. Pitt’s arrival remains shrouded in secrecy, unconfirmed reports suggest the star could reach the island as early as Friday.
Local authorities have welcomed the production, noting the economic boost it brings to the off-season. Hydra has a storied cinematic history, having served as the backdrop for the 1957 classic "Boy on a Dolphin" with Sophia Loren, the first major Hollywood film shot in Greece.