Montreal: l.a.-based Franchise Films and Morgan Creek of l.a. start shooting the big-budget sci-fi film Battlefield Earth on location in Montreal July 15 for 12 weeks. John Travolta is the movie’s lead and coproducer. Roger Christian, second unit on Star Wars: Episode One – The Phantom Menace, is directing. Producer Don Carmody is also on tap.

The film is set in the distant future when the planet has been taken over by aliens and is based on the 1982 novel by L. Ron Hubbard. The budget is reported to be in the $120-million range.

Franchise and Morgan Creek are also bringing the dark mob comedy The Whole Nine Yards to town. It began prep on March 29 and begins a 34-day shoot May 24. Mike Drake is one of the producers. Jonathan Lynn (My Cousin Vinnie) is directing.

Andrea Kenyon & Associates and Hollywood veteran Lynn Stalmaster are handling casting on Battlefield Earth, with auditions set for l.a., New York, Toronto and Montreal.