MONTREAL — After almost a year of intense discussions, War of Gods, produced by Hollywood wunderkind Ryan Kavanaugh, will likely be shot in Montreal, says Quebec’s film commissioner Hans Fraikin.

‘Things are really going in the right direction. That green light is blinking,’ says Fraikin.

Variety recently reported that the $110 million movie about war-torn ancient Greece will start shooting in Montreal in February. Fraikin would not confirm any dates.

Kavanaugh (Nine, Zombieland) has been the talk of the town south of the border after he picked up Producer of the Year honors at the Hollywood Film Festival on Oct. 26. Described as an economic whiz , the 34-year-old producer is lauded for his ability to bring projects to the big screen.

‘Ryan epitomizes the 21st century producer because of the way he does business,’ says Fraikin. ‘He’s young, bright and funny. He’s at the forefront. He’s an independent with financing and distribution deals with two majors,’ namely Sony and Universal. Kavanaugh’s Relativity Media is reportedly set to produce or coproduce as many as 35 movies in 2010.

‘War of Gods is Relativity’s biggest film ever,’ says Fraikin, adding that the producers took a liking to Montreal because of the province’s new 25% tax credit for all eligible expenses; its effects expertise and its soundstage facilities. ‘And everything needed to be the right price. It took months and months to bring the number down,’ says Fraikin.

There were reports earlier this year that Montreal had lost War of Gods to Hungary. Fraikin says the eastern European country didn’t have the effects expertise. ‘Montreal is one of four or five places in the world that has that technological know-how to do the effects. They couldn’t take the risk of going to a place where the expertise wasn’t guaranteed.’