Kualoa Ranch transformed into setting for Willis film

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor

Filming starts tonight at Kualoa Ranch in Windward O'ahu for Bruce Willis' latest search-and-rescue adventure, now entitled "Hostile Rescue."

Bruce Willis plays a Navy SEAL-type in his latest film. Advertiser library photo

Ernie Malik, publicist for the production, said about a third of the Revolution Studios feature will be filmed at night. "The set includes huts, a church and offices that look like it's all been there for 40 years," Malik said. "Hawai'i really looks like Africa."

Because of the hilly terrain, Malik said, "this is a logistically physical production," with virtually no access to the public. Oglers may have to catch Willis during the daytime, working out at a Honolulu gym or simply playing tourist.

Because of the Nigerian setting, Malik said that about 60 extras are here from the Mainland to play villagers. "They are of African descent, selected from various cities, including New York's Bronx, Houston, Cleveland, Atlanta and Minneapolis," he said. Only a few are from Honolulu, because the city does not have a large complement of black actors.

The movie is said to have a $70 million budget, though Malik would not confirm the price tag.

It is directed by Antoine Fuqua, whose last film was "Training Day," the Denzel Washington/Ethan Hawke movie up for Academy Awards this year.

"Hostile Rescue" is the third title for the project, which earlier had been dubbed "Man of War" and "Hostile Act." Production crews have also called it "The Untitled Willis Project" or "The Untitled Fuqua Project."

The crew said they expect to film here through the end of June, and the movie could be released by December or early next year.

Malik earlier worked with Willis on "12 Monkeys" and "Last Man Standing."