By Steve Wilcox

Special to Gravette Community Guide

You can ’ t really miss an independent movie production in a town the size of Gravette . Where did all those trailers come from ? Why is that big light shining into an empty garage ? And where did all these people come from ? It ’ s movie time !

“ In Fortune ’ s Shadow ” has been described by some as “ John Wick ” meets “ The Matrix ” and “ It ’ s a Wonderful Life ” with guns . For now , the action movie is taking up residence in locations around Gravette : an old garage ( since it says “ garage ” on the building ) and a former nut

processing facility across town .

For director David L . Hunt , the movie has been something of a passion project since he wrote the script years ago . And as an independent film with no major studio backing , getting the financing together for a full production is not easy , nor is it quick , but according to producer Mike Donovan , tax incentives from the state of Arkansas didn ’ t hurt .

As a director , Hunt is no stranger to Northwest Arkansas . His likely best-known film is “ Greater ,” a 2016 movie based on the life of Brandon Burlsworth , an Arkansas Razorback football player and Harrison native , who joined the major college football

team as a walk-on and became an All-American offensive tackle . Burlsworth died in a traffic accident in 1999 . The film was shot at various locations around the state .

Actors Michael Rooker (“ Guardians of the Galaxy ”) and Theo Rossi (“ Sons of Anarchy ”) star in “ In Fortune ’ s Shadow ,” which is being called “ the Gravette movie ,” though other locations around the state have also been used . A shoot of more than three weeks is expected .

Don ’ t look for “ In Fortune ’ s Shadow ” to show up in that summer movie cue at the multiplex . Donovan mentioned that post production of the film could take its release date to

February or March of 2025 .

The movie team is grateful to the Arkansas Film Commission ( arfilm ) and film commissioner Christopher Crane for helping to bring their project to the state . Arkansas can see many active movie productions across the state in a typical year , plus 15 independent movie festivals that help promote the Natural State ’ s connection to Hollywood .

As to the plot of “ In Fortune ’ s Shadow ,” Donovan isn ’ t giving anything away . He was quick to say the movie is “ very unique ; it ’ s not something you ’ ve seen before .”

We ’ ll be watching .