A trailer for a major motion picture filmed in Greenwood in 2014 has been released.
It comes with a surprise. The film’s working title, “By Way of Helena,” has been changed to “The Duel.”
The R-rated Western, starring actors Liam Hemsworth and Woody Harrelson, was filmed during the fall of 2014 at locations around Greenwood, including Florewood Park and an area off Mississippi 7 north of Greenwood.
After watching the trailer, Greenwood hotelier Suresh Chawla, credited as an associate producer of the movie for his efforts in its making, said, “I love the music in the trailer, and I still can’t believe that a Western was shot in Leflore County, specifically Florewood.”
Lionsgate Premiere, which acquired the film last year, has set a June 24 release date for the movie in theaters and on demand.
“The Duel” is a fictional tale about a Texas Ranger, portrayed by Hemsworth, who investigates a series of murders in a small town, which is led by a charismatic preacher, played by Harrelson.
A routine undercover investigation soon turns personal for the ranger, and he must solve the case before he loses everything.
The film was written by Matt Cook and directed by Kieran Darcy-Smith. Supporting cast members include Alice Braga, William Hurt and Emory Cohen.
“The Duel” also features several people from Greenwood who had small parts or appeared as extras.
Jessica Roberts of Greenwood said she was scrolling through her Facebook feed Wednesday when she saw Entertainment Weekly’s post featuring the movie trailer.
“I literally jumped for joy and immediately clicked play to watch the video,” she said. “It was so exciting to see the story come together.”
Roberts plays a brothel woman in “The Duel.” Her mother, Cathy, plays a cafe owner in the town, and her sister, Katelin, plays a church woman and one of the snake handlers featured in the trailer.
“At first I was so intrigued by the scene flashes and the phenomenal backing track that I forgot to watch to see if I made the cut,” Roberts said.
Then, she saw Kim Rochelle, manager of Webster’s, flash across the screen.
“I squealed with joy,” she said.
Her mother, Cathy, can also be seen in the trailer serving the two lead actors in the cafe.
“It was so amazing seeing the small strip of Florewood Plantation come alive as a Texas town in the late 1800s,” Roberts said. “I cannot wait to see ‘The Duel’ in its entirety. Even though I was in several scenes and got to read parts of the script, I still don’t know all of what happens.”
The title of the movie, according to Chawla, was changed by Lionsgate after an audience test. The original title came from the film’s setting in Helena, Texas, now a ghost town located 70 miles southeast of San Antonio.
Executive Producer Maureen Meulen “said that the new title of the film showcased the two stars better,” said Chawla.
A poster of the film exemplifies the name change — Hemsworth is pictured on the left and Harrelson on the right with a shotgun in between the two actors. The tagline for the film says, “Vengeance cannot be denied.”
The production of “The Duel” almost halted when unexpected financial issues occurred.
The Greenwood community and local businesses, one being Delta hotel company Chawla Enterprises, rallied behind the cast and crew to assist with the production. Suresh Chawla personally arranged a bridge loan for the film until the financing hitch was resolved.
“This film would have been shut down if it had been made anywhere besides our community,” said Chawla. “This movie is a testament to the kindness and patience of the residents of Leflore County.”
•Contact Ruthie Robison at 581-7233 or rrobison@gwcommonwealth.com.
