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Film Office Slams 'Batman', Civic Arena Implosion Rumors

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The action-packed "Batman" trilogy is scheduled to shoot part of its last movie, "The Dark Knight Rises" in Pittsburgh this July and August.

Local film critic Fiore Mastracci thinks he knows why.

"What I had heard through my sources was that the Civic Arena was going to be used in the upcoming 'Batman' movie," he said. "It was going to be imploded, but naturally on the screen it was going to look like an explosion and it was going to be a key scene in the movie."

Mastrucci's blog reports that the Civic Arena would be blown up as part of a deal between the film's director, Pittsburgh Film Office, Sports and Exhibition Authority and the governor. That brought heated denials.

"It's a totally a bogus story," Dawn Keezer, head of the film office, said. According to her, no one has ever talked about blowing up the arena.

"Unfortunately, some people really like to deal with rumors and innuendos and make up really great stories," she added. "Maybe they should start writing scripts for Hollywood."

Senator Wayne Fontana, chair of the SEA, backs up Keezer.

"There's been no conversation about 'Batman' having anything to do with the Civic Arena," he said.

Part of the problem with the implosion rumor is that the Civic Arena may not be a good candidate for imploding. Much of the arena is underground and it just might be easier and cheaper to take it down piece by piece.

But even Fontana says imploding the arena in 'Batman' strikes a chord.

"Certainly it would be cool," he said. "There's no question about it."

"But so far it's not happening. There's been no conversation, and quite frankly I doubt if it will," he added.

RELATED LINKS
More Entertainment News
More Reports By Jon Delano
Pittsburgh Film Office
Pittsburgh Sports & Exhibition Authority

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