From historical treatments to a destructive visit from one of history’s most celebrated monsters, Hawaii should get a lot of film and TV exposure in 2014.
Four films that shot in Hawaii last year will hit theaters in the summer, starting with "Godzilla," which turned parts of Waikiki into a smashed resort hotel and sent hundreds of extras running through the streets of the tourist mecca. "Godzilla," directed by Gareth Edwards and starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen and Bryan Cranston, is expected in theaters May 16.
The popular young-adult book "Under the Blood Red Sun," set in World War II Hawaii, lists a July release date on the Internet Movie Database, imdb.com, but that could change. The film stars primarily local actors.
Tim Burton’s biopic on artist Margaret Keane, "Big Eyes," currently lists an Aug. 28 opening date on imdb.com. Keane spent many years living in Hawaii and Burton shot scenes on Oahu.
Director Cameron Crowe’s untitled film starring Emma Stone, Bradley Cooper and Rachel McAdams filmed on Oahu for three months. No release date has been announced. The story is about a celebrated military contractor reconnecting with a former love interest, then falling for someone else.
Filming is scheduled to start on Maui in July for fantasy author Danica Fontaine’s family-friendly movie "Ethyrea: Code of the Brethren." Fontaine ultimately plans to shoot five films around Maui County. The first film, which will not premiere until spring 2015, is expected to spend $60 million in Hawaii, she said.
Also on Maui, Socrates Buenger plans to produce a TV pilot in his Maui Film Studios in early 2014. He is working with a network but won’t reveal details. He said he plans to shoot the action-adventure pilot even if he has no deal in place.
And finally, executive producer Shawn Ryan hopes to film a pilot in Hawaii set in 1957. The drama for Fox has yet to be picked up. In 2012 Ryan oversaw the short-lived ABC series "Last Resort" in Hawaii.
