'Uncle Frank' brings 1970s New York to Wilmington

WILMINGTON – Production has quietly begun on a new independent feature film in the Port City, and there's some big names in front of and behind the camera.

Details are scarce on the independent film, titled “Uncle Frank,” but it stars Paul Bettany ("Avengers: Infinity War") as a man living in 1970s New York City. At least that’s the big-city setting local crew recreated outside the Carolina Apartments at Fifth and Market streets last Friday for the first day of filming.

The walk-and-talk scene shot on the sidewalk featured Bettany's costar Sophia Lillis, a young actress best known for her role in 2017's remake of Stephen King's "It."

For the nighttime shoot, Market Street was lined with era-specific cars, including a big yellow taxi. The stone above the longstanding building, which was made famous by the locally shot David Lynch movie “Blue Velvet,” was also altered to read “Greenwich” and a fallout shelter sign was added to the exterior.

Lillis and several background extras wore vintage clothing as they walked along the sidewalk for the scene.

The production, which is employing around 70 crew members, also shot a block west at St. James’ Episcopal Church earlier in the day.

The film is written and directed by Alan Ball, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of “American Beauty,” and the creator of HBO drama series “True Blood” and “Six Feet Under.” The film is said to be a passion project for Ball.

Bettany announced his return to North Carolina for the film on Instagram with a selfie showing off his 1970's-style mustache. The actor previously appeared in the locally shot movie "The Secret Life of Bees" and voiced JARVIS in "Iron Man 3."

In recent years, Bettany transitioned to an on-screen role as Vision in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and "Avengers" franchise. Last week, it was announced he would join Elizabeth Olsen in "WandaVision," a new series starring their characters set to premiere on the brand new Disney+ streaming service.

Lillis, meanwhile, will next appear in "It: Chapter Two" in September. The sequel co-stars Andy Bean, a lead actor in DC Universe's "Swamp Thing," which is currently filming in Wilmington. Lillis has already been spotted around town since arriving, even stopping to take pictures with a few young fans.

"Uncle Frank" is expected to film through mid-May and will next shoot scenes at The Carolinian Inn on Market Street this week. It is not based at EUE/Screen Gems Studios, but the studio is providing support services.

A release date and a distributor for the film have not been revealed.

In addition to "Uncle Frank" and the continued production on the first season of "Swamp Thing," which will premiere May 31, the local film industry is gearing up to host filming on Hulu's new revenge drama "Reprisal." That series is expected to begin filming this summer.

Reporter Hunter Ingram can be reached at 910-343-2327 or Hunter.Ingram@StarNewsOnline.com.