[becozy]

A big-budget military thriller about an American submarine captain's attempt to rescue the Russian president will soon be pre-approved for filming in Alaska, the state says.

The Relativity Media film, currently called "Hunter Killer," is in the planning stages. Antoine Fuqua ("Training Day," "Shooter") is expected to direct with Gerard Butler ("300") in talks to star, Variety reports.

A producer for the film has described the movie as a $50 million to $100 million project. In other words: Two or three times the size of "Big Miracle."

The state film office received the producers' request to pre-qualify "Hunter Killer" for the Alaska film incentive about a month ago, said Wanetta Ayers, director of the state Economic Development Division.

The state will likely approve the application soon, she said. "It would be the largest incentive ever awarded under the program."

"We just approved, or are in the beginning stages of approval, for four or five applications, including two feature films," Ayers said.

A pre-qualification does not mean that the movie will definitely shoot in Alaska. A spokeswoman for Relativity declined to comment for this story. Producers have also applied to film in other locations, according to the company.

As always, plans for filming locations -- and even whether the movie will be made -- could change at any moment.

The "Hunter Killer" script is based on the novel "Firing Point," by George Wallace and Don Keith, according to Variety:

"(The) story follows an untested submarine captain who must work with a Navy SEAL team to rescue Russia's president, who's taken prisoner during a military coup. The two sides team to stop a rogue Russian general from igniting WWIII."

Butler was in talks to play the commander of the USS Toledo, the trade magazine reported.

A producer on the film, Jeff Waxman, told the Daily News this month that he hoped to make an action-thriller in Alaska. Filming would begin later this year, he said.

Waxman said he toured Whittier and other Alaska locations in January. "They rolled out the red carpet for us," he said of the isolated, waterside town.

He declined to name the film or talk about the plot at the time, but said the state film incentive, now under debate, was key to the project. "'Big Miracle' went up there and 'Frozen Ground,' but this would be a bigger movie," he said. "And if we can pull it off, which I think we can, people would want to come back."

Anchorage production company SprocketHeads is working with the film-makers and will be handling all local questions about the project, said owner Carolyn Robinson. She declined to talk in detail about the film.

"I am elated and proud!" Robinson wrote in an email. "We'll be posting approved Hunter Killer updates on the SprocketHeads Facebook site."

Source

[Min@]

No need to go to Alaska, can also come here in Italy to shoot the temperatures are similar

[NordicGirl]

Exiting! He could do this in Norway as well, - think of the short distance home....

And Min@, is the meaning of the words on your siggy "We were together - all the rest of the time I forgot"?
Very nice!!

This post has been edited by NordicGirl: 16 February 2012 - 04:35 AM

[Min@]

NordicGirl, on 16 February 2012 - 04:35 AM, said:

And Min@, is the meaning of the words on your siggy "We were together - all the rest of the time I forgot"?
Very nice!!

Some moments are never forgotten

[GBPhanatic]

Sounds like they may be wanting a dramatic, harsh winter back drop and perhaps a bleak snow laden setting for the film.

But they could film here in Mo too for the bleak depressing cold setting, although this year it's been mild, but the large body of water for the submarine scenes might prove problematic.

I love Alaska, though. If Gerry's never been there, he'll go crazy over it and want to live there except for the part where the men out number the women ten to one!

Delene

This post has been edited by GBPhanatic: 16 February 2012 - 07:36 AM

[Rendita]

It sounds like a lot of the film would probably take place on a submarine, which I'm guessing interiors would be a set. It seems like an actual submarine would be too small for all the equipment needed for filming, but I am totally surmising.

Ren

[sweetquebecer]

Hello!
That's great news!!!! Alaska seems a very beautiful place!!!!


Josée

[Texas gramma]

I lived in Alaska and loved the beauty of the place. However, in the summer, the Mosquitos are the size of an airplane and that's no fun!
However, I agree Gerry will love it up there!
(and I have no doubt Gerry will find the women!)

Suzie

[Abby]

That sounds so exciting, hope Gerry will have so much fun bet he will, and Suzie I bet he will find the women they would be silly to refuse him i wouldn't

Abby

[GBPhanatic]

Rendita, on 16 February 2012 - 10:25 AM, said:

It sounds like a lot of the film would probably take place on a submarine, which I'm guessing interiors would be a set. It seems like an actual submarine would be too small for all the equipment needed for filming, but I am totally surmising.

Ren

Then in that case, our pond would probably work!

Delene

[Karin*]

GBPhanatic, on 16 February 2012 - 11:35 AM, said:

Sounds like they may be wanting a dramatic, harsh winter back drop and perhaps a bleak snow laden setting for the film.

But they could film here in Mo too for the bleak depressing cold setting, although this year it's been mild, but the large body of water for the submarine scenes might prove problematic.

I love Alaska, though. If Gerry's never been there, he'll go crazy over it and want to live there except for the part where the men out number the women ten to one!

Delene

OMG Delene!
I guess I must spend some time in Alaska because here in Brazil is quite the opposite: 10 women for 1 man, or even more! Who can stand that???
xoxo,
Karin

[AlaskaGirl]

OMG!!!! I think I will faint. Please, Please, Please Gerry come to Fairbanks. He at least needs to see the interior.