Hollywood plans WPT movie
Tinseltown is hoping to get a bite of the poker apple soon, after plans for the Hollywood movie Deal get underway.
Filming is beginning this month in New Orleans, with the World Poker Tour (WPT) taking the starring role.
WPT stalwarts Mike Sexton, Vince Van Patten and Courtney Friel are expected to all play themselves, while the film’s stars include Burt Reynolds and Bret Harrison.
Poker stars Phil “The Unabomber” Laak and Antonio “The Magician” Esfandiari are also reportedly part of the cast.
Described as “The Color of Money meets the poker world”, Deal is expected to be a big hit with poker players around the world.
“We are very excited about the WPT leaping from the small screen to the big screen,” said Steve Lipscomb, founder and CEO of WPT.
“Deal will bring our enormously popular show on the Travel Channel to an even greater audience and we hope that it continues to fuel the explosion of poker worldwide,” he added.
The film is expected to use the real set from the WPT tournament this April, with the winners’ ceremony stage loaded up and trucked down to New Orleans for shooting after the tournament.