The Lucasfilm Ltd. production of Red Tails is in full swing, and producers George Lucas and Rick McCallum are already considering a second project to shoot in the Czech Republic.
Red Tails is a fictional story inspired by the historic and heroic exploits of America’s first all black aerial combat unit. The film is produced by McCallum and Charles Floyd Johnson, directed by Anthony Hemingway (The Wire, Battlestar Galactica) and written by John Ridley (Three Kings) from a story by executive producer Lucas.
“I’ve been wanting to do Red Tails for twenty years, and we’ve finally got the means to showcse the skills of the Tuskegee pilots,” Lucas said. “We’re working on techniques which will give us the first true look at the aerial dogfighting of the era. And our top-notch cast will really make this story special.”
Cast members include Oscar winner Cuba Gooding Jr. (Jerry Maguire), Oscar nominee Terrence Howard (Crash). “I’m thrilled to have such a fantastic cast of actors and such a talented director to work with,” McCallum said. “The story of the Tuskegee Airmen represents a milestone in American history, and we’re all proud to be paying tribute to their heroic efforts. That cultural significance is not lost on anyone in this great young cast.”
Red Tails started filming April 16 and will wrap in mid-July, with one week filming in Croatia. The production is utilizing Prague Studios’ facilities in Letnany as well as locations in Milovice and Karlovy Vary.
The production is serviced by Prague-based Partnership Pictures and a predominantly local crew, including Czech stuntmen and Oscar-nominated sound engineer Petr Forejt (Wanted).
Lucas and McCallum previously filmed several episodes of The Adventures Of Young Indiana Jones in the Czech Republic and were eager to return for Red Tails. “We have been consistently impressed with the country’s talented film professionals, the high quality of the local craftsmanship and the beauty of the Czech Republic’s widely varied locations,” McCallum said.
Lucasfilm would like to bring a third production to the Czech Republic in January 2010 — a new property in the iconic Stars Wars franchise, made for TV. The $150m production would last four to seven years.