Williamson adds to local movie revival
'Dawson's Creek' creator bringing Russell Crowe-led horror movie to area
WILMINGTON – Michael Myers won’t be the only evil haunting the local film industry in 2019.
After teasing the possibility on social media last month, producer Kevin Williamson, the creator of the locally shot television series “Dawson’s Creek,” is officially making his return to Wilmington to produce a new horror movie starring Oscar winner Russell Crowe.
Williamson confirmed the news Tuesday at an event on the EUE/Screen Gems Studios lot.
“It’s like coming home,” said the North Carolina native.
Details on the plot of the Miramax-produced film are being kept under wraps, but it is being shot under the working title "The Georgetown Project."
What has been revealed is that Crowe will play a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a horror film. As things worsen, his estranged daughter wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there's something more sinister at play. Deadline confirmed Crowe's casting earlier this month.
The project, written and directed by Joshua John Miller and M.A. Fortin, is set to begin filming in early November in Wilmington.
On Sept. 12, Williamson, a native of North Carolina, posted a picture of himself at EUE/Screen Gems with the caption, “Scouting a new movie on the same stages where it all began.”
Before creating The WB's “Dawson’s Creek,” which legitimized the region as a hub for television series production, Williamson also wrote the locally shot horror movie “I Know What You Did Last Summer.”
Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo said Tuesday he is happy to see the project land in Wilmington, further recoginizing another relationship built in the film industry.
"We saw it with 'Swamp Thing' and many projects before that: building those relationships with filmmakers and other in the film industry can have repeat business for our local industry," he said.
Writer and producer Williamson is also known for projects like “Scream” and “The Vampire Diaries,” and is currently the creator of CBS All Access’ fairy tale horror anthology “Tell Me a Story.”
Miramax is producing the film through Williamson’s company, Outerbanks Entertainment.
The film will extend a hot streak of productions in Wilmington this year, including “Halloween Kills,” the latest Jamie Lee Curtis-led installment in the Michael Myers saga. At year end, 2019 will be the busiest year in the local film industry since 2014, with more projects than the last three years combined.
Reporter Hunter Ingram can be reached at 910-343-2327 or Hunter.Ingram@StarNewsOnline.com.