Cape has inside track to land Hollywood film shoot

No definite answers were given by city officials Tuesday about the filming of the 20th Century Fox "Gone Girl" production in Cape Girardeau, but officials said the city has the inside track when the Hollywood studio ultimately makes a decision.

"We were hoping to present something more definitive," said Chuck Martin, director of the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau. "But the fact is that this is a process. I feel things are moving in a very positive direction, but at this time, we can't say for sure that this is going to be happening."

Martin spoke during a Tuesday meeting at the CVB, where he was joined by Mayor Harry Rediger.

Ben Affleck poses with his award for best picture for "Argo" during at the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday Feb. 24, 2013, in Los Angeles. Affleck is rumored to be the possible lead in 20th Century Fox's production of "Gone Girl." (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)

"I got involved in this about five weeks ago when location scouts wanted to look at houses," said Rediger. "They knocked on doors and basically fell in love with Cape Girardeau. They were looking at Cape, Hannibal and St. Louis, but they liked our bridge, the historical nature of the city and the parts that are new."

Rediger said filming of "Gone Girl" will "probably" be done in the city as early as this fall. Film crews could be in town anywhere from two to three weeks, and Rediger said their presence has the potential to exceed the economic benefit of "Killshot," which was filmed in Cape Girardeau in 2006 and estimated to have brought in about $750,000 to the local economy.

"I think this will be a bigger deal than 'Killshot,'" Rediger said. "The filming will add considerable economic impact to our community immediately. In the long term, it continues to put us on the map for the [film] industry. I'm encouraged that this may open up some future ventures."

According to Martin, actress Reese Witherspoon's production company, Pacific Standard, secured the rights to Gillian Flynn's best-selling thriller novel "Gone Girl" in July 2012 and worked out a deal with 20th Century Fox to make the film.

Martin also said Flynn has agreed to write the screenplay and David Fincher, director of films such as "Fight Club," "The Social Network" and "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," will direct the film adaptation of "Gone Girl." Fincher twice has been Oscar-nominated for Best Director.

"From everything we've been told about Fincher at this point, it looks like he's going to direct the movie," Martin said. "We've also learned that Ben Affleck is in talks to play the film's male lead."

Affleck has starred in "Chasing Amy," "Good Will Hunting," "The Town" and "Argo." Affleck won an Academy Award in 1997 for Best Original Screenplay with "Good Will Hunting."

If "Gone Girl" is filmed in Cape Girardeau, Martin said it will be a great opportunity for the city to shine.

"It will be one more thing to be proud of," he said.

Martin said he anticipates an answer from 20th Century Fox regarding filming "sooner rather than later."

"The second we receive word," he said, "we'll push that out."

"Gone Girl" is set in fictional North Carthage, Mo., a town on the Mississippi River. Published in June 2012, the novel's plot centers on the marriage of writers Nick and Amy Dunne and whether Nick killed his wife on the couple's five-year anniversary. The book topped The New York Times Hardcover Fiction best Seller list for eight weeks.

klewis@semissourian.com

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400 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, MO