The feature film “Hunter Killer” is set to begin production in the tiny South-central community of Whittier, Alaska in January. The film has been in the works for at least five years, with the project once pre-approved for an Alaska film subsidy in 2012. Producers for the film said the project is now a reality, with about 90 percent filming to take place in the Alaska town of 229 people.
At a recent packed town hall meeting in the Whittier Public Works Building, executive producers Jamie Marshall and Scott Lumpkin pledged to hire as many local people as possible as extras or to provide services.
“This is work! It’s a ghost town in the winter”, said Gregg Ginn, a 54-year-old longshoreman. Ginn said he has lived in Whittier for 16 years and “this is the most exciting thing we’ve ever had.”
Before the filming starts, Carolyn K. Robinson, owner and executive producer of the Anchorage-based production company ‘Sprocketheads’ said “there’s a lot of work to do. Somewhere in Whittier, a submarine has to be built. They’ll have to figure out a way to house and feed crew members.”
For 12 weeks after arriving in January, the crew will be in pre-production mode, including making casting calls, executive producer Lumpkin said. Whittier residents will be given top priority, he said, before producers turn to Girdwood, Anchorage and places farther away. Radio and social media will be used to advertise the casting opportunities.
Producers said they settled on Whittier in part for its wintertime resemblance to a Russian naval base. The port community, accessible by car or train through a narrow tunnel, is an access point to scenic Prince William Sound for fishing and tour boats. The majority of its permanent residents live in a single high-rise building.
“Hunter Killer” appears on track to be the largest production in Alaska history. Producers would not disclose the budget but said it far exceeds that of the Nicolas Cage thriller “The Frozen Ground” and the Drew Barrymore movie about whales trapped in sea ice near Barrow, “Big Miracle”. In interviews, producers on those films estimated budgets at the mid-$30 million range for “Big Miracle” and mid-$20 million range for “The Frozen Ground”.
The film is based on the novel “Firing Point” by George Wallace and Don Keith, about an American nuclear submarine captain who becomes entwined in a coup in the Russian military. It will be directed by Martin Campbell, whose other credits include the James Bond movie “Casino Royale” and “Green Lantern”. Actor Gerard Butler (‘300’) has been linked to the film in online trade publications, and his name was being circulated by residents.
“Hunter Killer” is expected to be released in 2016.
I’m intrigued. Looking forward to it!