Filming for “Prisoners,” the major motion picture scheduled to shoot in Derby and Shelton, has been pushed to March, Derby Economic Director Sheila O’Malley said Wednesday.
There is still no word on casting calls for extras. Last month filmmakers sent a letter saying they would be looking for about 750 extras for the film. The news triggered a flood of e‑mails to Derby City Hall and to this publication from people looking for information.
O’Malley received so many calls to her office, she changed her voicemail to let callers know that any casting call information will be published on the city’s Web site and the Connecticut film division’s Web site.
“I asked and the executive producer said they’re pushing the date back a little bit,” O’Malley said.
Filming was originally slated to start in late January or early February.
It’s not unusual for a film to have a moving start date.
A possible reason — “Prisoners,” to be directed by “Training Day” director Antoine Fuqua, still hasn’t announced its star.
Published reports from entertainment publications have said Christian Bale, Mark Wahlberg and Russell Crowe have been considered for roles. Producers have been telling local officials and residents they’ve been trying to land Hugh Jackman, who played “Wolverine” in the “X‑Men” films.
“Prisoners” is about two families who live across the street from each other, according to a letter from executive producer John Starke.
“These lifelong friends are thrust into turmoil when their two youngest daughters go missing. The movie centers on the family’s desperation in finding their children with the help of their neighbors and local police force; especially one police detective,” Starke wrote.
The script for the movie was picked as one of the best unproduced screenplays of 2009. Its producers have compared the film to Clint Eastwood’s “Mystic River.”
Variety reported Monday that Fuqua has signed on to direct “Consent to Kill,” another thriller. This caused at FirstShowing.net to speculate whether Fuqua is still attached to “Prisoners.”
