NZ to star in film pitting Cruise against Samurai

By KATHERINE HOBY

Tom Cruise is coming to New Zealand to star in a new big-budget movie, The Last Samurai.

Production of the movie, set in Taranaki, could start by the end of the year. Its budget is believed to be as high as $550 million.

After months of speculation, the Government confirmed yesterday that the movie would be made in New Zealand.

Associate Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Judith Tizard said the film would be another opportunity to showcase New Zealand.

"It will bring to New Zealand considerable economic benefits ... and it will further enhance our screen productions skill base, as local production professionals have the opportunity to work with some of the world's leading filmmakers."

Venture Taranaki chief executive Stuart Trundle said the announcement was "fantastic news". Months of work with Warner Bros had paid off.

Warner Bros had been scouting for locations since July. The project stalled after the September 11 atrocities, but was revived when Cruise was signed for the lead role.

Taranaki was selected after a recent delegation from the film company visited potential locations.

Shooting is expected to begin at the end of the year or early in January and continue until March.

Venture Taranaki representatives expect most of the film, directed by Hollywood big-wig Ed Zwick, will be shot in New Zealand.

The epic, set in the 1870s, is about the last days of the Samurai warriors and was penned by John Logan, who worked on Gladiator.

In the film, Cruise will play a battle-weary American Civil War veteran cavalry officer.

He travels to Japan as a mercenary and helps to train the Emperor's Army against Samurai warlords.

The New Zealand costume designer Ngila Dickson, who was nominated for an Oscar for her work on The Lord of the Rings, confirmed that she had started designing costumes for the film.

Peter Avery, of Film Venture Taranaki, said Taranaki was the best place to create a 19th-century vision of Japan.

Variety magazine says Cruise signed up for The Last Samurai for US$20m ($44.69 million).

It is believed to have a massive US$250 million ($548 million) budget.

The script is penned by John Logan, who also worked on Gladiator.