<P> In May 2007 , Columbia Pictures and Warner Bros. signed the Hughes brothers to direct The Book of Eli , based on a script by Gary Whitta . ( The brothers had last directed the 2001 film From Hell . ) Subsequently , Anthony Peckham rewrote the script , and in September 2008 Denzel Washington won the lead role . The following October , Gary Oldman was cast to star alongside Washington . Principal photography began in February 2009 and took place in New Mexico . Alcon Entertainment financed the film and co-produced with Silver Pictures . </P>
where did they film the book of eli
in New Mexico