Valley Independent Sentinel

‘Prisoners’ On Hiatus?

by Eugene Driscoll | Feb 5, 2010 5:50 pm

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Posted to: Derby, Shelton

“Training Day” director Antoine Fuqua has walked away from “Prisoners,” the movie that was supposed to start shooting in Derby and Shelton next month.

Variety reported Friday that Fuqua left “Prisoners” for another movie, “Consent to Kill.”

“Alcon is placing high priority on finding a new director for “Prisoners,” a well-regarded kidnap thriller by Aaron Guzikowski. Alcon had planned to shoot in the spring before Antoine Fuqua left the project to direct “Consent to Kill” at CBS Films,” the venerable show biz publication reported.

The Variety blurb states “had planned to shoot.”

Allison Ewart, the staff production coordinator for Alcon Entertainment, said Friday evening that ‘Prisoners’ is “definitely on hold” and is not known if and when the production will regroup.

“There’s a lot of things that have to come together (to shoot a movie),” Ewart said. “There were several things that didn’t come together in the time frame we had. We were really excited to do it there.”

If the movie regroups, production probably wouldn’t start until early next year, Ewart said.

The “Prisoners” production office in Shelton shut down in late January, according to a message from the producers posted on the CT Film Division Web site.

It reads:

“Prisoners is going on hiatus. If, or when, we are able to regroup and continue, we’ll post the good news here! The production office will be closed as of Friday, January 29th.

We sincerely thank you for all your support and interest in out project, and hope that we’ll be back soon!!

With best wishes,
The Folks at Prisoners.”

The CT Film Division doesn’t note when the message was posted.

Still On?

However, Mayor Anthony Staffieri and Economic Development Director Sheila O’Malley said as far as they know, “Prisoners” is still scheduled to shoot in March.

“We received word Monday that the producer was flying out to California to finalize plans,” Staffieri said Thursday.

The Internet Movie Database lists “Wolverine” star Hugh Jackman as starring in “Prisoners,” although that has never been officially confirmed.

“They nailed down a star, we were told,” Staffieri said. “And that the executive producer was going out to California to do all the paperwork.”

The movie was initially supposed to start shooting in January.

Staffieri said there was pressure on the producers, because the script calls for winter scenes.

“They need to start this movie by March, otherwise they’re going to have to wait until next winter,” Staffieri said. “They’re hoping to start by the beginning of March.”

Late Friday night, O’Malley sent an email to the Valley Indy.

“They have not given us any official or unofficial notification that they are stopping. As of this week they were still negotiating,” O’Malley said.

The Plot

“Prisoners” is about two families who live across the street from each other, according to a letter executive producer John Starke wrote to Derby officials late last year.

“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.”

The movie was to be set in Derby, with city insignia to be used in the film.

Scenes were supposed to be shot in Luther’s Garage in Shelton and at Derby City Hall, among many other local venues.

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