Wheaton College hosted one of Hollywood’s biggest stars on Monday, filming a movie about a giant meteorite heading towards Earth.
Jennifer Lawrence, who stars in “Don’t Look Up,” was filmed on the bucolic campus “dimple” and at Mary Lyon Hall on Monday morning before the downpour of rain, a source told The Sun Chronicle.
The Netflix feature film is a satire written, directed and produced by Adam McKay, who wrote “The Big Short” and was executive producer of the HBO hit “Succession” and other successful projects.
In the film, Lawrence and Leonardo DiCaprio play two low-level astronomers who attempt to warn the world of a meteorite that will strike Earth in six months. However, no one, including the president, believes them, according to the IMBd site and the Hollywood Reporter.
The all-star cast also includes Meryl Streep, Jonah Hill, Himesh Patel, Timothée Chalamet, Cate Blanchett and Rob Morgan, Tyler Perry, Melanie Lynskey, Ron Perlman, Ariana Grande, Kid Cudi, Matthew Perry, Tomer Sisley, Rafael Silva, Lewis D Wheeler and Lance Norris, according to IMDb.
Filming in the Boston area began last week, but the scene is being kept quiet due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The yellow and white Mary Lyon Hall, with its domed dome, sits at the main entrance to the campus and is one of its most recognized and photographed buildings.
Filming also took place in the red brick Park Hall, the main administrative building in Wheaton, according to the source. Its offices include that of the college president and provost.
A call to Wheaton’s public relations office was not immediately returned.
Police and firefighter details were needed as well as city permits.
As of Monday, there were around 300 people involved in the making of the film, including the crew and extras. A large tent has been set up on campus in addition to a food truck to feed the workers in the film, according to the source.
The film was originally scheduled to start filming in April for a December release on Netflix, but production has been delayed by the coronavirus. It is expected to be released on the streaming platform in 2021, according to IMDb.
David Linton can be reached at 508-236-0338.
