North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue scheduled a news conference Wednesday at EUE/Screen Gems studios in Wilmington to announce a project her office said was "expected to create hundreds of jobs." But the event was canceled, and the state Commerce Department said more time was needed to work out the project's details. Perdue later told the the Star-News of Wilmington the announcement involved the Cyrus movie "The Last Song," based on a script by New Bern author Nicholas Sparks. "I was hopeful to say that it was coming and now I don't know that I'll get to say that," Perdue told the newspaper.
She said Georgia also is trying to get the movie, which is being distributed by Walt Disney Co. Disney also is behind the "Hannah Montana" television series and movies that made the 16-year-old Cyrus a 'tween phenomenon.
"Nobody knows what's going to happen. ... I don't know what figures they got from Georgia, but Georgia wants them badly, and we want them badly," Perdue said. "And by Monday, there'll be four or five other states that want them badly."
Perdue spokeswoman Chrissy Pearson refused to confirm Perdue's statement and said the governor was not available for comment. AlisonTyrer, a spokeswoman for the Georgia Department of Economic Development, declined comment. Sparks did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.
Disney didn't know where the movie was shooting, spokeswoman Chrissy Woo said in an e-mail that. Offspring Entertainment, the production company, referred questions to Disney.
Cyrus said Tuesday that she's not certain she wants to do another Hannah Montana movie after "Hannah Montana: The Movie" is released April 10. But she is signed for a third season of the TV show and said she's interested in a fourth.
Sparks' movies, such as "Nights in Rodanthe" and "A Walk to Remember" have started as novels. But "The Last Song" began as a script written with Cyrus in mind.
"I've always been lucky to play parts that relate to me, and this doesn't at all," Cyrus said. "I have my issues, but not as bad as this chick. So I'm happy to play someone that's just kind of out there and not someone that I'm like."
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