Kidman and DiCaprio pull out of Morocco

Published May 27th, 2003 - 03:00 GMT

Plans for an upcoming major film in Morocco Starring American superstars Nicole Kidman and Leonardo DiCaprio have come to an end after the recent terrorism bombings. Hollywood has decided to pull out of Morocco following last week's suicide bombings that killed 41 people, reported AFP.

Work on the film "Alexander The Great," that was currently filming in Morocco, will be moved to Australia amid fears that the high-profile picture could become a target for terrorists.

Producer Dino De Laurentis plans to shift the Baz Luhrmann-directed epic from the studio built specially for it in Ouarzazate, less than 500 kilometers (300 miles) from Casablanca because "political conditions are too precarious".

The movie, which is currently in the pre-production stage, will begin shooting in November and will begin rehearsals with "Titanic" superstar DiCaprio in January.

Morocco has lured major Hollywood movies in recent years, with productions such as "Black Hawk Down," "Gladiator" and "Four Feathers" seeking out its unique landscapes and cheap labor.

But Hollywood studios that had been eying Moroccan locations for major box office draws such as "Gladiator 2" and the next installments of "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones" may now go elsewhere.

Several other movie productions may however still film in Morocco despite the terror strikes, including a rival "Alexander the Great" biopic directed by Oliver Stone. –Albawaba.com