WAFB Channel 9, Baton Rouge, LA |BR in running for major sci-fi movie

BR in running for major sci-fi movie

By Robb Hays - email

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - It looks like aliens and Marines will be battling it out in Baton Rouge as a major movie production heads to the city this fall.

Much of the production by Columbia Pictures would involve use of the Celtic Media Centre sound stage in Baton Rouge. The sci-fi movie is titled "Battle: Los Angeles" and is about a platoon of Marines fighting alien invaders on the streets of Los Angeles. Aaron Eckhart will star as a Marine platoon commander.

One industry insider said the production has a "sizeable budget" but cautioned late Monday afternoon that the "ink on the contract is not dry." Production would likely begin in October 2009.

Representatives with Columbia Pictures spent the past several weeks scouting the state for locations. They tentatively plan to spend 20 days shooting in Shreveport, followed by 45 days in Baton Rouge, according to the same insider.

Reportedly, portions of the movie would likely be shot along North Boulevard and possibly Interstate 110 in Baton Rouge, forcing the temporary closures of those roadways during production. Mike Futrell, Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Baton Rouge, said Monday afternoon he did not know of any plans to any major Baton Rouge roadways for a movie production.

Futrell had a meeting earlier in the day with Amy Mitchell-Smith, the Executive Director of the Baton Rouge Film Commission. Mitchell-Smith did not return two phone calls seeking comment.

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