Advocate staff report
Published: Dec 11, 2009 - UPDATED: 12:37 p.m.


“Battle: Los Angeles,” the Sony/Columbia Pictures movie that has filmed in Baton Rouge throughout the fall, will end its production this week at Celtic Media Centre, which is now in the hunt for an even bigger film.

Set for release in February 2011, “Battle” represented the biggest movie production to date in Baton Rouge, with local spending of more than $25 million and a total budget approaching $60 million, city-parish film officials have said. Celtic hopes to hear word by year’s-end on another major studio project, one that would eclipse the spending seen with the “Battle” project.

“It’s between us and London,” said Patrick Mulhearn, director of operations for Raleigh Studios at Celtic. Success could depend on the exchange rate between the dollar and the U.S. pound, he said, and the production would bring highly recognizable cast members.

In a wrap party Saturday at Chelsea’s Café, producer Jeffrey Chernov thanked Mayor-President Kip Holden for the city’s hospitality and professionalism, Mulhearn said.

“I think they were thrilled with the experience,” Mulhearn said. “Baton Rouge definitely put its best foot forward, and it bodes well. I think these guys definitely will be back.”

Holden, Celtic and state and Baton Rouge film officials wooed Sony Corp. Early trailers show the movie being made in a “Saving Private Ryan” documentary style, with the plot focused on U.S. Marines fending off an alien invasion. Mulhearn said the movie has the potential to rival the success of the 1996 Will Smith film, “Independence Day.”

“I think this one may have the possibility of being the best alien invasion movie ever,” he said.