Katherine Heigl to star in movie starting here in July
-
Katherine Heigl -- Will star in "One for the Money."
Share with others:
It's a plum role -- and series -- and Katherine Heigl has it and now, so does Pittsburgh.
Ms. Heigl is coming to Pittsburgh this summer to shoot "One for the Money," a big-screen version of the popular Janet Evanovich novel of the same name.
Published to enthusiastic reviews in 1994, "One for the Money" introduced Stephanie Plum, a laid-off lingerie buyer who blackmails her bail bondsman cousin into a job with his office. Turns out she's very good at the gig.
Since then, Ms. Evanovich has written 15 more Plum novels, with "Sizzling Sixteen" due in bookstores June 22.
"One for the Money" will mark the return to Western Pennsylvania of Lakeshore Entertainment, which made "The Mothman Prophecies" here. The movie, which will be set in the present day rather than the '90s of the series launch, will start in July and shoot into early September.
Julie Anne Robinson, who directed "The Last Song" starring Miley Cyrus and Greg Kinnear, will direct. Still to be announced are the actors who will handle the male roles of Joe Morelli and Ranger.
Pittsburgh will play Trenton, N.J., the backdrop for the books. "The cities are actually pretty similar in architecture," Richard Wright, head of production at Lakeshore, said yesterday by phone in confirming the shoot.
"They're both industrial cities that rose to prominence at a similar time in history. They were both built around heavy manufacturing, they both have a river going right through the city or right next to the city. ... It's actually a very, very good match."
Mr. Wright laughingly compared the movie to a "superhero origins story" explaining how the character came to be. Pressed to categorize it, he calls it a drama with action and comedic elements.
Stephanie has lost her job, moved back in with her parents and hit rock bottom. "She gets this opportunity to work in her cousin's bail bonds office, and it turns out she's incredible at it."
Asked if this might launch a film franchise, he said, "We should all be so lucky. Certainly if that happens, we'll be very happy."
Ms. Heigl, known for her former role on TV's "Grey's Anatomy" and in movies such as "Knocked Up" and "27 Dresses," will play the part as a brunette. In the first book, Jersey vice cop Morelli describes Stephanie as "lots of energy, not much control, sexy as hell."
First Published May 28, 2010 12:00 am
