Damon hints at big Strip scene for ‘Bourne’
Turns out Matt Damon's latest "Bourne" film might shut down the Strip.
Damon, in a recent interview with Variety, said the untitled film involves a "big car chase on the Strip."
Filming is scheduled to start this week and continue next week. A fleet of film company vehicles began arriving at parking lot south of The Smith Center for the Performing Arts late last week.
Damon, who plays former U.S.-trained assassin Jason Bourne in the thriller series, told Variety that filming started in September.
"We were in Tenerife, which is supposed to be Athens," he said. "It would be like a nighttime riot scene to kind of start the movie. And then England, Berlin a little bit for about a week, and little bit in D.C. Then we're going to Vegas for the third act."
Due for release in late July, it would be the fifth "Bourne" film.
It's a rare bit of good news for the Nevada film industry, which was hard hit when funding for the state's film incentives program was slashed from $80 million to $10 million in 2014 to help finance a $1 billion tax package to attract the planned Tesla Motors battery factory near Reno.
Veteran casting director Marilee Lear said several film projects vanished after the tax breaks were cut.
The scene and heard
Jason Sudeikis, a member of "The Second City" cast at the Flamingo hotel-casino for 2½ years before hitting it big on "Saturday Night Live," is cast in the upcoming film "Race" about American Olympics star Jesse Owens. Sudeikis plays Owens' track coach, Larry Snyder, a legend at Ohio State. Stephan James is cast as Owens, who won four gold medals at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. ...
The upcoming Mike Tyson movie starring Oscar winner Jamie Foxx as Tyson will be using CGI animation technology for scenes when Tyson was younger.
Media notes
Las Vegas-based sports talks host J.T. the Brick has signed a multiyear deal with Fox Sports Radio, on KRLV-radio, 1340 AM. His show is syndicated in 190 markets. He is in his 20th season as a host. He started in Las Vegas in 1996 at SportsFan Radio Network The deal makes him the longest tenured host at Fox. ... Jacqui Heinrich, anchor and reporter at KTNV-TV, Channel 13, since 2013, is returning to her hometown of Boston at the end of January. She's joining Fox affiliate WFXT-TV as a general assignment reporter.
On this day
Jan. 11, 1976: Bowler Dick Battista makes sports history at the Showboat Invitational Tournament, becoming the first pro athlete to return to competition after a heart transplant. He stays on the tour for four years before succumbing to a spinal tumor unrelated to his new heart.
Jan. 12, 2011: Details spread about Charlie Sheen's wild weekend of drugs, hookers and porn stars at the $40,000-per-night Hugh Hefner Suite at the Palms. He's back at work at "Two and a Half Men," claiming all's well but checks into rehab two weeks later and is soon fired from the show. Sightings
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, with friends Saturday at Lavo Italian Restaurant in the Palazzo. ... At Drai's Nightclub in The Cromwell on Saturday taking in Big Sean's performance: comedian Shawn Wayans and an army of NFL players, including Reggie Bush, Golden Tate and Jason Verrett. ... Former Croatian soccer star Davor Suker, spotted at Carmine's in the Forum Shops at Caesars on Saturday. He was the top goal scorer in the 1998 World Cup in France. ... UFC boss Dana White, with friends at the Italian American Club on Friday. Taking turns on stage on Saturday at the IAC: Clint Holmes and Kelly Clinton, Frankie Scinta, Jerry Tiffe and Carmine Mandia.
The punch line
"In Alabama, a bomb squad was called in to a post office to handle suspicious bags that ended up being full of hot dogs. So if you know someone who left a bag full of hot dogs at the post office, you should still call the police." — Jimmy Fallon
— Norm Clarke's column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He can be reached at 702-383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find more online at www.normclarke.com. On Twitter: @Norm_Clarke.
