Location scouts have been scouring Derby and Shelton for a place to film scenes for a major motion picture, the Valley Independent Sentinel has learned.
Officials in both cities have been hesitant to talk about the project for fear the deal will fall apart, but Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti confirmed that he and Derby officials — including Mayor Anthony Staffieri — have been in talks with a production company for about a month.
Nothing has been finalized, Lauretti said, declining to reveal more information about the possible shoot.
“There’s nothing definitive that I can tell you, except that they’ve expressed a lot of interest in Derby and Shelton,” Lauretti said. “Until they make that decision, we’re at a loss as to knowing the particulars about it.”
However, a source tells the Valley Independent Sentinel the film is “Prisoners,” a revenge tale to be directed by Antoine Fuqua.
Fuqua is the 42-year-old director who guided actor Denzel Washington to his first Academy Award in 2001’s “Training Day.”
The production team is apparently looking for a space to rent for their equipment — and is looking to film scenes at two houses in Shelton.
Officials should know within a few weeks whether Derby and Shelton will be used, Lauretti said.
The movie would be positive economic development in both cities, the mayor said.
“They talked a lot about the economic benefit it would generate when they come in and spend a couple million dollars here,” Lauretti said. “Local businesses will benefit from them being here. They spend money, they eat in restaurants, they use hotel rooms, they need office space.”
The script for “Prisoners” was a hot commodity in Tinseltown, having sold for about $1 million, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Various stars have been attached to the film, including Russell Crowe, Christian Bale and Mark Wahlberg.
However, it is not clear when the movie will start filming — although reports have said it could be as early as January.
Last year Ryan Gosling was in Derby, filming a scene from “All Good Things,” co-starring Kirsten Dunst.
The independent film “The Private Lives of Pippa Lee,” with an all-star cast that included Keanu Reeves, Winona Ryder, Alan Arkin and Robin Wright-Penn, also filmed last year in Derby, at Griffin Hospital.
