‘Big Short’ to shoot in New Orleans

“The Big Short” is coming to the Big Easy. Brad Pitt’s big-screen adaptation of New Orleans native Michael Lewis’ best-selling Wall Street expose — set to feature an A-list cast that will reportedly include Pitt, Ryan Gosling, Christian Bale and Steve Carell — has set up offices in town and is eyeing a March start to production.

In keeping with studio practice, Paramount Pictures has yet to publicly announce where the film will shoot or to respond to a request for comment. But the state film office confirmed Wednesday morning (Feb. 11) that it has received an application from the studio for the project.

“This application is under review by my office and we look forward to production starting in a month or so,” said Chris Stelly, the executive director of Louisiana Entertainment.

A handful of local film industry workers confirmed this week that the film is already scouting local shooting locations and hiring crew ahead of the start to principal photography. The pace of local pre-production work is expected to accelerate after the local Carnival season, which culminates on Feb. 17, Fat Tuesday. It’s unclear how long the local shoot will last.

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