Production on Fade Out, a feature film written and directed by Michael Christofer (Gia) and starring Billy Bob Thornton, slated to start shooting in Halifax June 28, has been halted after leading lady Kate Beckinsale dropped out.

While concerns over the fate of the Hollywood production from L.A.’s GreenStreet Films are mounting in Halifax, U.K.-born producer Bernie Williams (Daredevil), who now works in L.A., says the setback has at worst pushed the start date by a few weeks. Williams anticipates that shooting will be underway by July 19.

‘Our intention is to get this movie going as fast as we can,’ he says, explaining that the nine- to 10-week shoot needs to begin by midsummer, or else the weather may start adding further complications.

In addition to recasting the female lead, Williams says he is still scouting locations for the murder mystery. He confirms that locations in Vancouver were considered before Nova Scotia won out as the ideal setting. The story takes place at a writer’s retreat, calling for a secluded home and private dock on the ocean – the perfect place to get away with murder.

While Williams has not worked in Halifax before, this will not be his first experience filming in Canada. Williams executive produced Frank Oz’s The Score, which shot in Montreal with Robert De Niro, Edward Norton and Marlon Brando in May 2000. Other producers working on Fade Out include Geyer Kosinski, John Penotti and Fisher Stevens.