26 June 2003
The Herald Sun - click
here for original source
Epic may come to outback
ALEXANDER the Great's legacy continues, with the ancient conqueror preparing to close in on Broken Hill.
Director Baz Luhrmann and veteran Hollywood producer Dino De Laurentiis yesterday revealed their intentions to the Broken Hill community -- that filming the big budget epic Alexander the Great in the outback mining city was fast becoming a high probability.
The pair joked about building a studio in the desert before answering questions from community representatives gathered to welcome them.
With a reported budget topping $300 million and stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Nicole Kidman waiting in the wings, the town is abuzz with the prospect.
"The very fact that we are here shows how real that possibility is . . . the potentiality of it is deeply exciting," Luhrmann said yesterday.
"On a technical level Broken Hill is fantastic . . . the whole town would have to become involved in the film on every level . . . we are Australian and want to work from home."
He singled out Adelaide as a potential location for coastal scenes.