For a Moment (Or Two), FOX Considered Shooting Lonestar in Austin. But Then ...

By Robert Wilonsky Thu., Jun. 3 2010 at 9:13 AM

What you see above is the trailer for Lonestar that FOX Broadcasting posted a few days ago. The pilot, as you surely know by now, was filmed here this spring as Midland with (500) Days of Summer's Marc Webb directing. And I was going to post this yesterday. But Wednesday morning I heard from an acquaintance in the teevee business that, despite an earlier announcement, there was a remote chance that 20th Century Fox Television would shoot the series in Austin, using Friday Night Lights' set-up come late July. Several other sources later confirmed the look-see further south.

But Dallas Film Commissioner Janis Burklund tells Unfair Park that, no, the production will stay right here after all.

"We just heard yesterday for sure," she says this morning. "It had been coming, then there was a last-minute waffle that they were looking at Austin. But we heard yesterday afternoon that they will shoot in Dallas." Specifically, at the Studios at Las Colinas, which 20th Century Fox Television still has tied up after the short-lived The Deep End used the facilities last year.

And while we're on the subject of what is and isn't filming here: Chaos, another Fox production for CBS and the subject-not-subject of last week's press conference at Dallas City Hall, is slated to film here ... if, that is, CBS and Fox can work out their stalled-out deal. CBS wants only eight episodes -- hardly a long-term commitment for the CIA procedural. Fox, on the other hand, wants the network to order 13 episodes.

And: FOX has also announced that Monday is officially Good Guys Day in Dallas -- meaning, not only does it makes its for-reals bow on the network, but very early in the morning Mayor Tom Leppert will present an official proclamation to the cast and crew. He will also grow a mustache much like Bradley Whitford's.

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