Six Austin-Lensed Films Hitting Theatres This Fall

Despite Austin's population of just 700,000, there is no denying that we have become the regional hub for film and television production in the Southwest. In fact, no fewer than six films shot in Austin will hit screens between now and Thanksgiving. If you're curious about what those trucks near the Capitol building and at Texas Chili Parlor have been up to, or simply want to support locally made films with your movie dollars this fall, here's a list of both what is currently in production and which completed projects are awaiting release:

Note: All movie description text obtained via the always helpful RottenTomatoes and IMDb. Production information courtesy of Texas Film Commission.

Currently In Production:

Untitled Kimberly Pierce Project - Back home in Texas after fighting in Iraq, a soldier refuses to return to battle despite the government mandate requiring him to do so.
Starring Ryan Phillippe.

Friday Night Lights (TV) - The highly-touted first season of NBC's football drama based on Buzz Bissinger's legendary book. Premieres in early October.

Grind House - See below.

Coming To Screens This Fall:

August: How To Eat Fried Worms - An 11-year-old boy's first day in school devolves into a battle with the school bully. It leads to a dare that the youth can't eat 10 worms in one day. The kid turns out to be 'Fear Factor' material, and his exploits change the balance of power in the fifth grade.

September: Idiocracy - Mike Judge (BEAVIS & BUTTHEAD, OFFICE SPACE) makes his second directorial foray into live-action comedy with IDIOCRACY. When a none-too-bright fighter pilot (Luke Wilson) volunteers for a military experiment that propels him 1000 years into the future, he finds himself in a dumbed-down society in which he is the smartest member.

October: Infamous - Based on the true story of young Truman Capote and his investigation into the 1959 murders of a wealthy Kansas family of four. What starts out as a journey with his childhood friend Harper Lee to figure out "whodunit," turns into something unexpected: an intense and complex bond with one of the murderers that inspired his greatest work, 'In Cold Blood.' Starring Sandra Bullock.

October: Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning - The origins of the legendary horror character Leatherface will finally be revealed in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning. The film, which is set years before the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie, stars Jordana Brewster and is being directed by Jonathan Liebesman.

November: Fast Food Nation - When it was published in 2001, Fast Food Nation quickly became a New York Times bestseller, with its no-holds-barred, non-fiction exploration of "the dark side of the All-American meal." The big screen version FAST FOOD NATION is a dramatic feature penned by Fast Food Nation author Eric Schlosser and Oscar® nominee Richard Linklater, who also serves as director. Greg Kinnear stars.

November: The Return - A new supernatural thriller starring Sarah Michelle Gellar ("The Grudge," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer") as Joanna Mills, a tough young Midwesterner determined to learn the truth behind the increasingly terrifying supernatural visions that have been haunting her.