Christian Bale, director Scott Cooper return to Pittsburgh for Netflix movie

PITTSBURGH — Actor Christian Bale will make his third movie in Pittsburgh (after “Dark Knight Rises” and “Out of the Furnace”) and director Scott Cooper returns for his second (after directing “Out of the Furnace” in Western Pennsylvania) with Netflix’s “The Pale Blue Eye.”

Pittsburgh Film Office director Dawn Keezer confirmed production will begin in late November.

“The Pale Blue Eye” will also star Harry Melling, best known for his role in Netflix’s “The Queen’s Gambit.”

The movie, adapted from the Louis Bayard novel, takes place in 1830 at a military academy where a veteran detective (Bale) attempts to solve a string of murders with the assistance of a cadet who will later become the famous author Edgar Allen Poe (Melling).

Pittsburgh is becoming enough of a production hub that “The Pale Blue Eye” marks the second reunion of cast/lead crew members from a previously produced-in-Pittsburgh project. Earlier this week Netflix revealed cast and crew from filmed-in-Pittsburgh “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” are returning to town to shoot Netflix’s “Rustin,” including director George C. Wolfe and actors Colman Domingo and Glynn Turman.

Although production on “The Pale Blue Eye” won’t start until late November — and will continue through mid-February — the film is already casting extras. Extras casting directors are specifically seeking men with lean builds ages 18-45 to portray cadets and officers (marching or drill experience is a plus, so former or active military, guard, reserves, ROTC, police and marching bade members are encouraged to apply).

Extras will be paid $168 per day for 12 hours with a mandatory boot camp on Nov. 22 and 23 to learn marches/drills. To participate, proof of covid-19 vaccination will be required. In addition, covid testing will be required prior to boot camp, costume fitting and scheduled work dates (testing is free to extras and production pays extras $50 for testing on non-work days).

To apply send one waist-up and one full-length photo of only the person seeking to be cast to mosserextras@gmail.com with the subject line “CADET/OFFICER.” Please do not wear a hat or sunglasses in the photo. Also include your name, phone number, location, age, height, weight, suit chest, neck, sleeve, waist, inseam, hat and shoe size.