Cape Girardeau has a good chance of being the filming location for a major Hollywood movie. 20th Century Fox is scouting possible locations for scenes in the movie adaptation of the best-selling book “Gone Girl.”
David Fincher will direct Gillian Flynn’s psychological thriller, and several media reports attach Ben Affleck to the leading male role.
The book is based in the fictional town of North Carthage, Missouri.
Scouts and production managers approached city leaders in late April about filming significant portions of the movie in Cape Girardeau.
“They know specifically what they’re looking for, so they have gone out in the community, approaching businesses, approaching area residents, seeking their involvement, their permission to maybe use their property and so forth for the filming,” Convention and Visitors Bureau executive director Chuck Martin said.
According to Martin, Cape Girardeau met all the requirements necessary for the film, such as its size and location on the Mississippi River.
“I think that we have a wonderful mix of new, a wonderful mix of old,” Martin said. “I think the one thing that was expressed to me that they truly loved was the fact of being able to film on Main Street with some 19th century buildings and having this wonderful Bill Emerson Bridge in the background.”
Details are still developing, and the film company has not yet made any commitment to film in Cape Girardeau. If it happens, filming could begin in late August and last nearly three weeks.
Cape Girardeau mayor Harry Rediger believes this could open doors for the city to see more movies filmed in its streets.
“I think we will be able to portray through this movie and through all these artists that will be here that we are a city that has potential for the future in this industry,” Rediger said.
If the movie studio picks Cape Girardeau, this will be the second movie filmed here. A direct-to-DVD thriller called Killshot was filmed here in 2006. Rediger said it brought an influx of nearly $750,000 through hotels, restaurants, and other expenditures.
“I really feel that this, with the second movie that has the possibility of being here, that it puts us in a very good position for the future, too,” Rediger said. “We have potential in the movie industry, and in that industry for the future for not only Cape Girardeau, but our area and our region.”
20th Century Fox has also looked at filming Gone Girl in St. Louis and Hannibal.
Gillian Flynn’s book has been widely popular. It has been on The New York Times bestseller list for 55 consecutive weeks.
