Scenes of Brad Pitt fighting zombies in Scotland might never reach the cinema
Footage of Brad Pitt battling zombies on the streets of Scotland may never see the light of day, film chiefs have admitted.
The makers of World War Z spent a fortune – and generated huge excitement – turning a Glasgow street into Philadelphia and further scenes were shot in Grangemouth.
But insiders say the movie has needed an emergency rescue, reshooting is being done in Budapest, and the Scottish scenes are unlikely ever to make the silver screen.
Creative Scotland, the government body which funds and promotes the film industry, today admitted it would be “unfortunate” if the footage never made the final cut of the movie, the release of which has been delayed.
But they insist Glasgow and Scotland will still benefit economically from attracting the production.
Creative Scotland worked hard behind the scenes to bring Pitt to Scotland, scouting the locations that were used in filming.
Shooting finished on the troubled production months ago, but studio bosses have had to bring in a new set of expert script writers in an attempt to save the movie from box office disaster.
Officials at Paramount have refused to say whether the Scottish scenes for World War Z have been cut but confirmed the release date had been put back until next year.
A source close to the production described the difficulties facing the film as “a nightmare from top to bottom” which now “needs as many as seven weeks of complex reshoots”.
Another source said reshooting is set to take place in the Hungarian capital.
A spokeswoman for Creative Scotland said: “While it would be unfortunate if the Philadelphia scenes shot in Glasgow for World War Z don’t make the film, we shouldn’t overlook the fact that Glasgow has already benefited greatly from the production itself.
“It provided work for our fantastic Scottish crews, raised the city’s profile on an international level and brought financial benefits through the surge in tourism and work generated by the film.
“The production also showcased Glasgow and Scotland generally as a fantastic filming location and showed we can accommodate big scale productions.”
A number of roads were closed off to traffic last August, with fake shop fronts and American cars brought in to transform Glasgow into US city Philadelphia.
Around 1,200 people, including locals, dressed up as ghastly zombie extras marched through the city during scenes shot at George Square, and other locations.
Scottish fans lined the streets for a glimpse of Hollywood heartthrob Brad Pitt and his partner Angelina Jolie when they arrived in Scotland’s biggest city.
Car chase scenes were also filmed at a field at the Grangemouth oil refinery in Falkirk.
The shoot cost the production company £64,000 in policing costs alone.
It is estimated the Scottish economy benefited to the tune of £3m.
Ryan Wenstrup-Moore, an American who lives in Glasgow and who worked as an extra in the film, said: “There was a lot of buzz in the city, with filming and stars being in town.
“Just because the director or producer decides what they shot isn’t good enough doesn’t mean its Glasgow’s fault.”
The £80million blockbuster was originally planned to be shot on the streets of Philadelphia – which coincidentally sits only 46 miles from a town called Glasgow.
But the film’s producers chose to shoot in Scotland for cash reasons.
*1 British pound = 1.5689 U.S. dollars
~deadlinenews.co.uk
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