Adam Driver's new movie, '65' releases this week. It was shot in this iconic Louisiana location

Meredith G. White, Shreveport Times
·1 min read
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The Kisatchie National Forest in Central Louisiana is sharing screen time with Adam Driver in his new dinosaur action film 65 by A Quiet Place writers Scott Beck and Bryan Woods.

In 2020, Hurricane Laura tore through Louisiana causing significant damage throughout the state. The Kisatchie National Forest's Calcasieu Ranger District in both Rapides and Vernon Parishes sustained an estimated $70 million in damage. The entire district was forced to close all recreation areas, hiking trails and campgrounds.

Cody Austell, U.S. Forest Service wildlife technician and U.S. Forest Service Biologist Steve Shively band red cockaded woodpecker chicks in Kisatchie National Forest. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has listed the birds as endangered. Old growth pine trees over 100 years old are their normal habitat but many of those trees were cut down threatening the species. Using artificial cavities and monitoring the birds, the U.S. Forest Service is helping the birds thrive.

Site manager for 65 David Thornsberry told the Leesville Daily they were open to filming anywhere in Louisiana that could fit their needs which included landscapes with hills and thick forests that had unique visuals.

The Sony Pictures-backed film was shot in Kisatchie in the winter of 2020-2021 and the parish received a significant economic boost during that time.

"65" (March 17, theaters): The sci-fi thriller stars Adam Driver as a pilot who thinks he's crashed on an unknown planet and instead finds himself stranded on Earth 65 million years ago, where he faces dinosaurs and other deadly prehistoric creatures.
"65" (March 17, theaters): The sci-fi thriller stars Adam Driver as a pilot who thinks he's crashed on an unknown planet and instead finds himself stranded on Earth 65 million years ago, where he faces dinosaurs and other deadly prehistoric creatures.

The new science fiction thriller is led by Adam Driver, best known for his villainous portrayal of Kylo Ren in the Star Wars prequels, and Avengers: Infinity War alumna Ariana Greenblatt. Oh, and man-eating dinosaurs.

65 hits theaters on Friday, March 10.

More Louisiana Movie News: Louisiana native, TikTok star Addison Rae is headed to the big screen with Patrick Dempsey

Meredith G. White is the arts and culture reporter for the Shreveport Times. You can find her on Facebook as Meredith G. White, on Instagram and Twitter as @meredithgwhite, and email her at mgwhite@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: New Adam Driver movie filmed in hidden gem Central Louisiana location