By Carol Beggy and Mark Shanahan
Globe Staff / February 12, 2008
The moment word came that the Hollywood writers' strike was about to end, the local film community started buzzing about how soon work could begin on "The Fighter," the big-budget movie about "Irish" Micky Ward starring Mark Wahlberg and Brad Pitt. Once the strike is officially over, final rewrites can be done on the script, and the crews can get back on a schedule that would allow filming to begin in Lowell by the fall. Other films, however, have continued along. On tap to begin filming here in a few weeks is "The Ghosts of Girlfriends Past," which stars Jennifer Garner and Matthew McConaughey and a cast that includes Anne Archer, Michael Douglas, Emma Stone, and Lacey Chabert. Kevin James's comedy "Mall Cop" is expected to start filming in the area this spring. Kate Hudson's coming back to Boston to film another movie: "Bride Wars," costarring Anne Hathaway. Filming for the comedy - about two best friends who become, you guessed it, enemies after they schedule their weddings for the same day - is expected to start in the area late next month. Director Gary Winick, who shot the pilot for "Lipstick Jungle," has been in the area scouting for locations. Also coming to town to film is "Sexual Healing," the Marvin Gaye biopic with "Law & Order" star Jesse L. Martin as the late singer and "The Sopranos" boss James Gandolfini as his agent. That flick, which also is filming in Los Angeles and Belgium, will be in the area by mid-April. And "The Proposal," starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds, is expected next month in Gloucester, which will be subbing for Alaska in scenes.