Jason Momoa, Oklahoma director John Swab filming 'Copperhead' in downtown OKC
Story originated by: Brandy McDonnell & Nathan J. Fish - The Oklahoman
Movie star Jason Momoa and rising homegrown filmmaker John Swab have been clocked in and getting to work in downtown Oklahoma City this week.
Production on Swab's anticipated crime thriller "Copperhead," which started filming in September in various OKC locations, was underway on Tuesday, Oct. 21, in downtown, with the requisite lights, cameras, action — along with Momoa, Swab, other cast and crew, extras, police cars and a crane.
Portions of Robert S. Kerr and N Broadway avenues around the set were shut down Tuesday afternoon for the production. A small crowd of people gathered across the street from the set to catch glimpses of Momoa, who seemed to take the attention in stride, often flashing his familiar wide grin.
Along with Momoa ("Supergirl"), "Copperhead" stars Miles Teller ( "Top Gun: Maverick"), Tenoch Huerta ("Black Panther: Wakanda Forever"), Adria Arjona ("Andor") and Primetime Emmy Award winner Kiefer Sutherland ("24").
"Copperhead" is the latest homegrown movie from Swab, a Tulsa native known for making several hard-hitting crime dramas in his hometown, including "Body Brokers," "Little Dixie" and "One Day as a Lion." Written by Chad Feehan and J. Todd Scott, the crime thriller will follow a veteran detective who has to join forces with a young federal agent to unravel a conspiracy after an undercover drug deal explodes into violence in West Texas.
Details on the characters that Teller, Huerta, Sutherland, Arjona and Momoa — the latter two are dating — will play in the movie have not yet been revealed.
Los Angeles-based Black Label Media, the company behind Oscar-honored hits like "La La Land" and "Sicario," is financing and producing the project alongside Teller’s Lime Tree Productions and Swab’s Milk Boy.
"Copperhead" has pre-qualified for the state film incentive and is set to lens in the Sooner State through Nov. 6, according to the recently updated Oklahoma Film + Music Office filming slate. It also has pre-qualified for Oklahoma City's film incentive program. The OKC Economic Development Trust in May approved the movie, code-named "Project Snake," for a rebate not to exceed $1 million.
The thriller has an estimated production budget of $39.
7 million, and it is projected to generate about $13.7 million in local expenditures, with an overall community impact of about $33.5 million, according to the Oklahoma City Economic Development Foundation.
