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The pitch will need to target Russell Crowe's patriotism rather than his wallet. But film-makers have set their sights on attracting the Hollywood A-lister to star in a film about New Zealand's most decorated soldier.
Wellington-born Crowe was on the wish-list of actors put forward by makers of a new film about double Victoria Cross war hero Charles Upham, due to start shooting in Taranaki this year
The company, Fat and Thin Productions, said yesterday it had secured most of the $18 million budget for the film.
Chief executive Matt Walsh said Ralph Fiennes and Heath Ledger had also been asked to consider portraying Upham, the only combatant soldier to win two Victoria Crosses in World War II.
The medals were awarded for valour in Crete and North Africa.
Weta Workshop will make props and costumes for the film, likely to be named after the book Mark of the Lion, by Kenneth Sandford.
But Crowe is likely to have to take a pay cut if he accepts the part.
He is reported to be getting about US$20 million ($28.7 million) to play the Sheriff of Nottingham in the latest version of the legend of Robin Hood called Nottingham.
Work on it is expected to start late this year or early next year.
Uncertainty over who will star in the Upham movie is unlikely to dampen the enthusiasm of Taranaki residents, who remember the exposure and money that poured into the region in 2002-03 during the filming of The Last Samurai, starring Tom Cruise.
Fat and Thin said it planned to make at least three movies in Taranaki in the next three years.
Mr Walsh said the company was in discussions with two Hollywood studios for an Indiana Jones-type action feature with a budget of about $100 million.
