Genre: Thriller.
Studio:
Paramount.
Production Company:
Unknown.
Project Phase: Greenlighted.
Who's In It:
John Travolta; Madeline Stowe; James Cromwell; Timothy Hutton.
Who's Making It: Simon West (Director); Mace Neufeld, Jonathan Krane (Producers); based on a
novel by Nelson DeMille.
Premise: An undercover detective is called on to investigate the rape and murder of a heralded base commander's daughter. During the course of his investigation, he uncovers a series of cover-ups involving sexual assaults, secret sex videotapes, and a gang rape at West Point.
Release Date: 1999.
Comments: None.
Rumors: Unknown
Scoop Feedback:
[Page draft submitted by 'Deadpool'.]
March 20, 1998... While promoting his new film Primary Colors on The Tonight Show, John Travolta mentioned that it he might team-up on the big screen with his wife Kelly Preston. One of two projects mentioned was Tri-Star Pictures' Shipping News, while the other project mentioned was The General Daughter's. Travolta was set to work on this film after completing his work on Touchstone Pictures' A Civil Action. [Scoop submitted by 'Deadpool'.]
March 24, 1998... Travolta has been on board for about a month, our scooper writes us. (According to them, the book was only bought close to four weeks ago for a very pricey 2 million buckarooskis.) Michael Douglas was attached originally, but when Travolta's interest was piqued that canned Douglas. [Thanks to our fellow in properties, 'Azrael'.]
June 21, 1998... There was some confusion generated by the synopsis given by the previous scooper. They said the book was set during WW2, a statement which confused all the readers of the novel who know it takes place during the present day. Here's what reader Pete Bondurant had to say about the matter...
"'The General's Daughter' is a book by Nelson Demille; probably written about 2 - 3 years ago. It is a suspense novel set in modern times, and Japan is never involved. The hero is a Special Army Investigator who is called on to sollve the rape-murder of a general's daughter. Her body is found staked out on training field. There are of course many suspects, including the general, and there are people at the top who might not want the crime solved. Also, the paperback version I have seems to indicate that the novel WILL be made into a 'major motion picture' which implies to me that the film rights were negotiated long ago."
Although the book's cover might mention that there were plans to make the book into a movie a while back, perhaps the March 24th scooper meant that the rights had changed hands.
We hope that settles the matter. [A debt of gratitude also goes out to 'Swingin' Jimmy', Matt W., Dan Fisher, 'Platin', Pete Bondurant, Nick Allen, 'C14S1657', 'lcuga' and anonymous.]
A general (pun intended) casting call went out looking for extras in Savannah, Georgia on June 20th. News reports indicate that shooting starts July 20th in the city. [Contributed by 'ghostrider'.]
That report was repeated by a radio station in Waycross, GA which reported filming begin July 24. ['Icura'.]
June 28, 1998... We've been told James Cromwell has signed to play the General. As well, Timothy Hutton has also been cast for a role. [Anonymous.]
July 14, 1998... "Filming has begun in Savannah. Broughton Street in the downtown historic district has mysteriously developed a false used car lot with an obviously fake 'Western Union' type bank across the street. This bank looks as though it's rigged to burn, with aluminum falshing and lots of piping running conspicously towards a capped off gas main. Behind the false front building a small parking lot has been marked 'Paramount Parking Only' and spaces have been labeled for Simon West, Mace Neufeld and Jonathan Krane. Friends in SPD tell me this is the set for a big action scene, but cannot confirm how this fits into the storyline." [Cool news covered by the 'Ghostrider'.]
September 20, 1998... Some news from someone in Savannah:
"Okay, well it seems you guys don't know a lot about the film The General's Daughter, so I give you the unoffical scoop. First off I will tell that I lived in Savannah this summer. Anyway the film The General's Daughter was filmed in Savannah. I actually spent some time talking to Mace Neufeld about the film. The way it seems is that S.K.G. Inc. is the field production company in charge of production. As you may or may not know S.K.G. Inc. owns a little production company called DreamWorks. Yes, thats right Mr. Steven Spielberg. He is the real one behind the whole thing. Oh yah, I also sat and talked with James Cromwell for about 15 min. at school one day." [Scoop provided by 'Tyler Littman, Dynamic Entertainment'] November 16, 1998... Who says all TV news is bad news? "While I was watching the 11:00 news they said that John Travolta was filming a movie in Stockton, California. They said the movie was called The General's Daughter. They showed some footage of some crew members filming on a bridge in Stockton, California. They also said that they had already filmed in Georgia and were wrapping the film up with a couple of scenes filmed in Stockton. They didn't know when it would be released, but probably 1999." [Scoop provided by 'DJ'.]
"According to the local news John Travolta was in Sacramento this week to work on the film The General's Daughter. The newsreporter appeared to just miss Travolta, but they did show part of the set which was made to look like some backwoods Southern conveince store. I think the name was Country Bob's Store or something like that. They also shut down a local freeway or highway but I just missed that part of the story." [Scooped by 'ASU Hoops!'.]