People on the street downtown are in a tug-of-war over whether they would rather see actor Russell Crowe or Mark Wahlberg star in the major motion picture “Prisoners” that begins shooting here in January.
Crowe, famous for his leading role in “Gladiator,” and Wahlberg, who actually began his show business career as rap star Marky Mark, have been attached by entertainment insiders to the project.
So has “Dark Knight” star Christian Bale, who first came to fame as the boy prisoner in Steven Spielberg’s classic “Empire of the Sun.”
Local officials told the New Haven Register “X‑Men” star Hugh Jackman is attached to the movie, which is about a small-town carpenter whose family is kidnapped.
When the box office film crews hit the city as early as January, the real star will be the city of Derby itself, said Mayor Tony Staffieri.
City Hall itself is going to be one of the buidings featured in the picture, Staffieri said. There are a number of other community buildings that will also play a role, but he could not disclose what they are.
Local streets in the downtown area will be partly closed down for the filming, which Staffieri said will include a car chase scene and a crash. He is exuberant about it.
“I“m not just excited about this, I’m overhwhelmed,” Staffieri said. “Most of it is going to be filmed in Derby because of the positiveness of how our street looks, and the people of our community. And we have so much to give and offer.”
A location scout for the project had visited Derby and believed it is fit perfectly for the role, the mayor said.
The film is reportedly about a carpenter in a small Pennsylvania town who goes after the person he believes kidnapped his daughter and her friend. Shooting will also take place in Shelton. It won’t be too much of a disruption though.
“The streets will be closed at different times, whenever there is filming going on,” Staffieri said. “They won’t close down the whole street, not the whole bulding, because city business has to continue.”
Major motion picture-making has been going on in Connecticut for several years, ever since the state initiated a 30 percent Digital Media and Motion Picture tax credit. They include “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.” Tens of millions of dollars are spent producing these films, and it often means rental and service income for local businesses.
So who does hot dog vendor Mark Lanzieri of Ansonia want to meet on Elizabeth Street? No question — Crowe.
“I like Russell Crowe, I think he’s a great actor. He’s been in “Gladiator.” I’d love to meet him,” Lanzieri said.
Valley Arts Council President Rich DiCarlo of Derby, who was grabbing a dog at Lanzieri’s Courthouse Dogs cart, is also big on the Australian Crowe.
“I’d like to see Russell Crowe. That would be nice,” DiCarlo said.
But if Wahlberg were to hit town, it would make George Garlin of Derby happy.
“They’re all great actors, but Mark Wahlberg, I just watched him in a movie over the weekend about a sniper. And he made “Boogie Nights,” Garlin said.
Julius Matyasovszky of Derby, who was loading a truck outside the Stars and Stripes Thrift Shop/No Vet Left Behind, said it was a coincidence that the video rack in the shop right then just happened to have a couple of Wahlberg movies.
“He’s a good actor, got good character. He is excellent,” Matyasovszky said.Wahlberg may have begun his career rapping to a beat but he’s a bigger star than that now.
“He’s become a great actor,” said Chris Pate of Shelton, who was working in the thrift shop.
Mary Porter, who owns the Stars and Stripes, was just hoping that whomever actually shows up in January and February to film the picture stops by her place.
“I’m kind of hoping they’re going to bring everyone down here. I’ve spoken to them, and they support the veterans a lot,” Porter said.
The director of the picture is Antoine Fuqua, whose film “Training Day” about a corrupt police narcotics squad boss won an Academy Award for Denzel Washington.
