7 Blue Ridge Blockbusters: Asheville Is Hollywood Hot In 2015

ASHEVILLE, N.C., Feb. 20, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With awards season underway, a spotlight is cast on the Asheville area and its numerous 2015 connections to the silver and small screens. Playing the role of story muse, film backdrop and celebrity playground, Western North Carolina offers adventures and immersive travel experiences for film and television fans.  Learn the favorite hangouts of Kristen Wiig and Owen Wilson, visit Asheville's own Downton Abbey, learn about the inspiration for a Nicholas Sparks tale or explore the Appalachian Trail with these 2015 connections: http://www.ExploreAsheville.com/Hollywood-Hot-In-2015.

EXPERIENCE ASHEVILLE'S HOLLYWOOD CONNECTIONS
Downton Abbey – On the heels of Joanne Froggatt's Golden Globe win, the popular PBS television series Downton Abbey comes to Asheville with "Dressing Downton: Changing Fashion for Changing Times," an exhibit featuring more than 40 costumes from the show. Suitably located at Biltmore, the February 5 - Memorial Day exhibit offers tie-ins to the lives of those who lived and worked at America's Largest Home during the same era.

• Celebrate the Gilded Age: Check out a Downton-themed supper club, gourmet high tea and Downtown Abbey travel packages.

A Walk in the Woods – Two of the nation's signature hiking routes enjoy a moment in the spotlight this year. The film Wild stars Oscar nominated Reese Witherspoon and focuses on the Pacific Crest Trail while Sundance "delight" A Walk in the Woods follows Robert Redford and Nick Nolte as they hike the Appalachian Trail, which runs just north of downtown Asheville. Projected Release: Late Summer – Early Fall 2015

• Hike with a Local Legend: Go on a customized hiking trip with Blue Ridge Hiking Co., owned by Jennifer Pharr Davis, record holder for the fastest thru hike of the Appalachian Trail. Explore more hiking ideas and outdoor travel packages.

Masterminds – Filmed on the streets of Asheville last summer, Masterminds is based on the famed 1997 Loomis Fargo bank robbery in Charlotte. Comedy stars Zach Galifianakis, Kristen Wiig and Owen Wilson bring life to this $17.3 million "hillbilly heist," the largest of its kind at the time.  Those familiar with Asheville will recognize filming locations such as Pack Square, the Buncombe County Courthouse and downtown streets. Projected Release: August 2015

• Summer Home to the Stars: Get an insider's look at the actors' favorite local spots.

Genius – Based on the book Max Perkins: Editor of Genius, the film Genius stars Colin Firth as Perkins, Jude Law as Thomas Wolfe and Guy Pearce as F. Scott Fitzgerald. To take on the role as Asheville's native son, Law visited the city to walk in Wolfe's footsteps and tour his mother's boarding house.  Projected Release: Late 2015

• Follow the Footsteps of Literary Giants:  Take a tour at one of the country's most famous literary landmarks, the Thomas Wolfe Memorial in downtown Asheville. The childhood home to the 20^th-century author was immortalized in his autobiographic tale, Look Homeward, Angel. Stay at the Omni Grove Park Inn, where F. Scott Fitzgerald spent his darkest days in Asheville.

The Longest Ride – North Carolina author Nicholas Sparks celebrates his 10th novel-turned-film with The Longest Ride, starring Alan Alda, Scott Eastwood and Britt Robertson. The legendary Western N.C. art institute Black Mountain College inspired elements of the plot. Projected Release: April 2015

• Visit Black Mountain College: The Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center expansion in downtown Asheville opens this spring.  Also check out the colorful and immersive {Re}HAPPENING April 3 at the original campus of Black Mountain College.

The World Made Straight and Serena – Local writer Ron Rash has two novels with Western N.C. settings making big screen debuts this year. The World Made Straight, filmed in Black Mountain, stars Noah Wyle and Minka Kelly. In Serena, Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper play a newlywed couple operating a 1930s timber business.

• Explore Asheville like Katniss: Revisit where Jennifer Lawrence worked and played the last time she was in Asheville while filming The Hunger Games. Take a guided Hunger Games tour and practice survival skills at DuPont State Forest, film location of The Arena.

MOVIE BACKDROP AND LITERARY HOT SPOT
Home to the highest peaks in the east, lush landscapes and dramatic historical sites, the Asheville region provides a visually spectacular backdrop for the motion picture industry.  From "The Last of the Mohicans" to "The Hunger Games," here are a few examples of the 68 movies that have been filmed in Western North Carolina.  The area also has a rich literary history with many greats calling Asheville home (Thomas Wolfe) or those who found themselves frequently amid the Blue Ridge Mountains (F. Scott Fitzgerald).

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150220/176782

SOURCE Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau