A listing on Backstage.com has been causing some buzz on a few comic book websites, including ComicBookMovies.com, because it claims The Dark Knight Rises, will begin shooting in New Orleans this month:
The Dark Knight Rises (Batman 3) (Action/Comic Book) The third installment in director Christopher Nolan’s Batman reboot. Christian Bale, Morgan Freeman, and Michael Caine star. Casting: John Papsidera, Automatic Sweat, 5243 W. Washington Blvd., L.A., CA 90016. Shoots in April in New Orleans.
New Orleans, along with Chicago and a number of other cities, was one of the speculated filming locations for the movie. But in recent months, its looked more likely that New York, Pittsburgh, and a studio in the U.K. will be filling in for Gotham. As far as the information above goes, our guess would be that the Back Stage listing hasn’t been updated.
We did contact Louisiana Entertainment about the information and we received the following statement from Christopher Stelly, Director of Film, Louisiana Entertainment:
We are thrilled that people are talking about movie making in Louisiana, since our industry is thriving, but at this point Louisiana Entertainment has not been contacted by the production so we have no information on their plans.
So for now, it looks like we’ll just have to wait and see where the caped crusader actually shows up. At least the wait won’t be long, filming is expected to begin this month.
And even though Batman may not be wondering the streets of NOLA, Louisiana still has plenty on its plate.
We actually ran into Stelly and some of his crew a few weeks back at SXSW where we spoke briefly about the success Louisiana Entertainment has had bringing projects to the state, but Stelly pointed out that it isn’t just their tax incentive program which attracts big budget films. “Tax incentives bring in projects but you also have to have infrastructure to back it up,” he explained.
I had asked him if he felt that Louisiana may see a boost in filming with some states, like Michigan, decreasing their tax incentives for films and he said Louisiana Entertainment is “focusing on what we are doing, but would be happy to welcome those productions from Michigan.” One of those productions, Freelancers starring 50 Cent and Robert De Niro, which chose New Orleans over Grand Rapids, begins filming in Louisiana next week.
Christopher also mentioned he expected things to get even busier for the Louisiana film industry this summer! We can’t wait to see who will be filming in the state next.
For now, here’s an updated list of what’s filming this spring:
Sons of Guns Season 2
The Discovery Channel’s reality television series, Sons of Guns Season 2, will shoot April 11 – September 30 in the Baton Rouge area.
The Third Act
Voltage Pictures’ feature film The Third Act, starring Anette Bening and Morgan Freeman, will shoot this summer in Alexandria. More information will become available as this production develops.
No One Lives
Milk & Media’s feature film, No One Lives, will begin preproduction April 24 with filming scheduled for June 7 in New Orleans. Please send resumes to harryknapp@gmail.com..
Billy the Exterminator Season 4
A & E’s reality television series Billy the Exterminator Season 4, starring Billy Bretherton, will shoot April 1 – July 31 in Shreveport.
The Baytown Disco
State Street Pictures’ feature film, The Baytown Disco, will shoot May 1 in Slidell. More information will become available as this production develops.
Lay the Favorite
The independent feature film Lay the Favorite, starring Bruce Willis, Justin Timberlake, Rebecca Hall, and Catherine Zeta-Jones will shoot May 11 for 25 days in New Orleans. More information will become available as this production develops.
The Dark Tales of El Diablo
The independent feature The Dark Tales of El Diablo will shoot May 31 in West Monroe. Please send resumes to darktales@spleefilms.com.
Medallion
Nu Image/Millennium Films feature film Medallion starring Nicholas Cage will will begin filming April 11 in New Orleans. Please send resumes to medallionresumes@gmail.com.
Treme, Season 2
The second season of HBO’s television series, Treme, is now filming in New Orleans until May 2011. Please send resumes to blowndeadlineprod@gmail.com.
The Stuart House Recordings
The Iron Dragon LTD independent feature film “The Stuart House Recordings” will shoot in late May in New Orleans. Please send resumes to irondragonfilms@gmail.com.
Dirt Road to Lafayette
Bullet Films’ feature film, Dirt Road to Lafayette, will shoot April 27 to June 8 in Lafayette, LA.
21 Jump Street
Sony Pictures’ feature film 21 Jump Street, starring Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill, will shoot April 18 in New Orleans. Please send resumes to 21jumpstreetresumes@gmail.com
Memphis Beat Season 2
TNT’s television series Memphis Beat Season 2, starring Jason Lee, Sam Hennings, and DJ Quails, will begin filming March 20 in New Orleans and at the St. John Center Soundstage in LaPlace. Please send resumes to memphisbeatresumes@gmail.com.
Playing the Field
Millennium Films feature film Playing the Field starring Gerard Butler, Jessica Biel, and Uma Thurman will shoot April 4 to May 20 in Shreveport. Please send resumes to ptfproduction@gmail.com.
Abraham Lincoln – Vampire Hunter
Fox’s feature film Abraham Lincoln – Vampire Hunter, starring Josh Lucas and Benjamin Walker, will shoot March 14 in New Orleans. Please send resumes to alvh2011@gmail.com.
Kane and Lynch
Millennium Films’ feature film Kane and Lynch, starring Bruce Willis and Jamie Foxx, is in preproduction in Shreveport. Please send resumes to ecallais@millenniumstudios.net.
Stash House
The independent feature film Stash House will shoot in Baton Rouge beginning March 26. Please fax resumes to 225.757.6258 with attention to STASH PRODUCTIONS.
Freelancers
The independent feature film Freelancers, starring 50 Cent, will shoot April 18 for 4 weeks in New Orleans. More information will become available as this production develops.
Cogan’s Trade
The independent feature film Cogan’s Trade, starring Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck, began filming February 21 in New Orleans. Please send crew resumes to coganstrade@gmail.com.
Dark Circles
The independent feature film Dark Circles will shoot from March 9-29 in Baton Rouge. Please direct resumes to darkcirclesproductions@gmail.com.
