Pitt shooting in Edmonton

Edmonton ­- The Warner Bros. western The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is currently shooting in Fort Edmonton Park, after a successful first week in Calgary.

The film, based on the Ron Hansen novel, is about the final days and murder of the legendary wild-west outlaw, as portrayed by Brad Pitt. Casey Affleck (Ocean’s Twelve) stars as Ford, alongside Mary-Louise Parker, Sam Shepard, Sam Rockwell and Jeremy Renner (North Country).

Under the banners of Plan B Entertainment and Scott Free Productions, the US$30-million Assassination is being produced by Ridley Scott, Jules Daly (Tooth Fairy), Dede Gardner (Running with Scissors), David Valdes (Open Range) and Pitt, with Brad Grey (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), Tony Scott and Lisa Ellzey (In Her Shoes) exec producing.

Andrew Dominik (Chopper) directs and wrote the screenplay, with Roger Deakens (The Village) serving as DOP. From Edmonton, the production will head back to Calgary, and then move on to Winnipeg. It is expected to wrap in early December and will be released by Warner in 2006. Dustin Dinoff