BY MELANIE BUCK –
Mena is much abuzz about the possibility of Hollywood coming to town. Published reports indicate that Tom Cruise is getting involved in the project, portraying pilot turned drug and gunrunner, Barry Seal.
Doug Liman is set to direct the film about Seal, who reportedly based his operations in Mena and was an American pilot who flew planes for one of the largest-ever covert CIA missions that also spawned the birth of the Medellín Cartel (a Mexican based cartel).
When reports first published on the sale of the script in February 2014, Ron Howard had been listed as a possible director of the film. The script was written by Gary Spinelli and was reportedly purchased by Universal Studios. Imagine Entertaiment is also involved in the project via Brian Grazer, the movie’s producer, along with Quadrant Pictures’ Doug Davison, with Universal distributing.
Cross Creek Pictures will finance “Mena” and Cross Creek’s Brian Oliver and Tyler Thompson will produce alongside Grazer and Davison. Kim Roth will executive produce and oversee the project for Imagine with senior VP of production Kristin Lowe overseeing for Universal. Jason Seagrave will oversee on behalf of Cross Creek.
As to whether the film will actually be shot in Mena is still in the works, although many are hopeful. Mena Mayor George McKee said, “I think it would be good for Mena, good for the economy. I’ve tried to look at every angle of it and I see only positives for the City of Mena.”
About Author
Jeri Pearson
Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.
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