George Clooney, Sandra Bullock, Tom Hiddleston and Gerard Butler are among the big-name stars who appear headed to Louisiana this fall as a variety of feature films swoop in to occupy the space vacated in the past few weeks by the recently wrapped “Terminator: Genisys,” “Jurassic World” and “Fantastic Four.”
Projects featuring the four actors have turned up on the state film office’s most recent listing of projects shooting, or preparing to shoot, in-state.
For Bullock, who owns a home in town, that could mean a bit of home cooking, as she reportedly gears up to co-star with Clooney in the Warner Bros.-backed political comedy “Our Brand Is Crisis.” The studio hasn’t officially confirmed her involvement, but she has long been rumored to be circling the project, which would reteam her with her “Gravity” co-star Clooney.
Based on the 2005 documentary about the exporting of American political strategies to South America, the film is being produced by Clooney and producing partner Grant Heslov. They’re the same producing team behind 2012’s Oscar-winning “Argo.”
The script is being penned by “Men Who Stare at Goats” screenwriter Peter Straughan. Shooting is expected to begin Sept. 29.
No other cast has been announced, but the 2005 doc on which the film is based featured, among others, New Orleans’ James Carville. So if nothing else, a cameo role would be convenient.
As for Butler, he’s set to star in another Warner Bros.-backed project, one that has been in pre-production in town since early July. That film: director Dean Devlin’s sci-fi disaster epic “Geostorm.” In it, Butler will reportedly play a satellite designer who must head to space to save the world from the potential fallout from a fleet of malfunctioning climate-controlling satellites.
“Geostorm” will mark the feature directing debut of Devlin, whose past credits include as a screenwriter on such films as 1992’s “Universal Solider,” 1996’s “Independence Day” and 1998’s “Godzilla.” Principal photography is scheduled to begin in October.
Finally, Hiddleston — most known to audiences as Loki from “Thor” and “The Avengers” — is set to play country music icon Hank Williams in director Marc Abraham’s indie biopic “I Saw the Light,” which will shoot in Shreveport from October to December.
Those three projects add to a suddenly crowded fall production calendar that includes such already-announced projects as “Trumbo,” a biopic on blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, who will be played by Bryan Cranston and which starts shooting September; as well as the TV series “American Horror Story: Freak Show” and “NCIS: New Orleans,” both of which are already underway.
Below, find a full listing of projects shooting or preparing to shoot in state, as well as contact information for prospective crew members, courtesy of the state-run Louisiana Entertainment.
Pre-Production
“Geostorm”: Warner Bros feature film Geostorm starring Gerard Butler began pre-production July 7 and is slated to begin filming in October in New Orleans. Please send resumes to geostorm2014@gmail.com
“I Saw the Light”: Independent feature I Saw the Light starring Tom Hiddleston will film October through December in Shreveport. Please direct resumes to productionofficeistl@gmail.com
“Our Brand Is Crisis”: Warner Bros. feature film Our Brand Is Crisis starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney is filming Sept. 29 in New Orleans. Please send resumes to obicresumes@gmail.com
“Trumbo”: Groundswell feature film Trumbo starring Helen Mirren, Bryan Cranston, Diane Lane, and John Goodman will film Sept. 15 through November 6th in New Orleans. Please send resumes to trumboprod@gmail.com
Filming
“American Horror Story: Freak Show”: Fox television series American Horror Story ‘Freak Show’ is filming July 14 to December in New Orleans. Please send resumes to ahs.office@tvbyfox.com.
“NCIS: New Orleans”: CBS Studios television series NCIS: New Orleans starring Lucas Black, Scott Bakula, and Paige Turco is filming July 21 in New Orleans. Please send resumes to ncisnolaresumes@gmail.com
“Shut In”: Independent feature Shut In, is filming until Aug. 22 in Shreveport. Please send resumes to shutinresumes@gmail.com