Secretariat begins principal Photography
Oct. 10, 2009 – WALT DISNEY PICTURES’ “SECRETARIAT” BEGINS PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Principal photography is underway for Walt Disney Pictures’ “Secretariat,” the story of the legendary Triple Crown-winning horse and his owner Penny Chenery. The film will be shot on location in Kentucky and Louisiana.
The film is directed by Randall Wallace (“The Man In the Iron Mask” “We Were Soldiers,”) and stars DIANE LANE (“Nights in Rodanthe,” “Untraceable,” “Unfaithful”) and JOHN MALKOVICH (“Burn After Reading,” “Changeling”). Based on the remarkable true story, “Secretariat” chronicles the spectacular journey of the 1973 Triple Crown winner. Housewife and mother Penny Chenery (Lane) agrees to take over her ailing father’s Virginia-based Meadow Stables, despite her lack of horse-racing knowledge. Against all odds, Chenery – with the help of veteran trainer Lucien Laurin (Malkovich) – manages to navigate the male-dominated business, ultimately fostering the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years and what may be the greatest racehorse of all time.
The cast also includes DYLAN WALSH (TV’s “Nip/Tuck,” “The Lake House,” “We Were Soldiers”) as Chenery’s skeptical husband, and DYLAN BAKER (“Spider-Man 2,” “Spider-Man 3,” “Revolutionary Road”) as Chenery’s brother, a Harvard professor who questions her abilities. MARGO MARTINDALE (“The Savages,” “Million Dollar Baby”) portrays Chenery’s assistant, and NELSAN ELLIS (“True Blood”) plays Eddie Sweat, Secretariat’s groom. OTTO THORWARTH, a real-life jockey who, through mid-July 2009, had more than 1300 wins, portrays Ron Turcotte, Secretariat’s famed jockey. FRED THOMPSON (“Law & Order,” “Die Hard 2,” “In the Line of Fire”) plays Bull Hancock, a master horse breeder who was president of the Racing League and a friend of Chenery’s father. SCOTT GLENN (“The Bourne Ultimatum,” “Nights in Rodanthe,” “W.”) plays Chenery’s father, and AJ MICHALKA (“Aly & AJ” group) portrays her daughter. KEVIN CONNOLLY (“Entourage”) and ERIC LANGE (“Lost”) are featured as the reporters who first recognize Secretariat’s potential, and JAMES CROMWELL (“24,” “W.”) portrays a wealthy financier and pillar of horse racing.
Director Wallace is an Oscar®- and Golden Globe®-nominated screenwriter (“Braveheart”). The film is produced by Mark Ciardi and Gordon Gray, who founded Mayhem Pictures (“The Rookie,””Miracle,” “Invincible,”). Mike Rich (“Finding Forrester,” “The Rookie,” “Radio”) wrote the screenplay. The creative team also includes Academy Award®-winning cinematographer Dean Semler (“Dances with Wolves,” “We Were Soldiers,” “Apocalypto,” the upcoming “2012”), production designer Tom Sanders (“Saving Private Ryan,” “We Were Soldiers,” “Apocalypto,” “Eagle Eye”), costume designer Michael Boyd (“Gettysburg,” “We Were Soldiers”), and editor John Wright (“X-Men,” “The Passion of the Christ,” “Apocalypto,” “The Incredible Hulk”).
Mark Ciardi, Randall Wallace, Secretariat's exercise rider Jimmy Gaffney and actress Diane Lane in the Belmont paddock.
