Principal photography is underway in Edmonton on Tom Green’s latest flick, Freezer Burn: The Invasion of Laxdale. Produced by local prodco Panacea Entertainment, the sci-fi action/comedy is looking to make a bigger splash than other Canadian projects have in this genre.

In Freezer Burn, Martians want to transform Earth into a time-share and construct crop circles to up the temperature and turn the planet into a tropical hot spot – much to the detriment of humanity.

Director and cowriter Grant Harvey – who directed Ginger Snaps Back: The Beginning is bullish on the new film’s prospects. ‘I think what will set this film apart [from other Canadian sci-fi comedies] is our real star power, as opposed to just putting someone in with marquee value to a distributor or a funder, but who doesn’t hold the attention of an independent audience,’ he says.

The acting muscle comes from Green (Freddy Got Fingered), who steps out of his long-established clown shoes into a dimwitted straight-man role. The villain is played by cult favorite Crispin Glover (Willard).

Harvey says the film’s sight gags lend themselves to strong promotional opportunities that will translate into ticket sales with its targeted young male demo. ‘There are a lot of hilarious moments where characters indiscriminately drop in flames, so it’s pretty irreverent,’ he says.

He’s also hoping for unseasonably warm October weather in Edmonton, as he starts his 21-day shoot in what is supposed to be boiling-hot temperatures. He adds that the crop circles are already causing a commotion outside the city, with the local airport reporting a few concerned phone calls from travelers.

Equinoxe Films will distribute Freezer Burn nationally for a summer/fall 2008 release, and Film Bridge International will look after its worldwide sales.