`Runaway Bride' Begins Principal Photography; Film is Directed by Garry Marshall, Stars Julia Roberts and Richard Gere.

HOLLYWOOD--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Nov. 5, 1998--"Runaway Bride" began principal photography on Monday, Oct. 19, it was announced by John Goldwyn, president of Paramount Motion Pictures.

The 12-week production is being filmed entirely in the state of Maryland. Shooting will take place primarily on locations and stages in and around the city of Baltimore, with two weeks scheduled for the small town of Berlin, Md. Paramount Pictures is part of the entertainment operatiuons of Viacom Inc.

"Runaway Bride" brings Roberts, Gere and director Marshall together for the first time since they teamed up for the blockbuster hit "Pretty Woman." A romantic comedy, "Runaway Bride" stars Roberts as a woman who has left three grooms at the altar and Gere as the cynical reporter who decides to write an article about her marital near-misses.

"Runaway Bride" is directed by Marshall, produced by Ted Field, Tom Rosenberg, Scott Kroopf and Robert Cort, and written by Sara Parriott, Josann McGibbon, Leslie Dixon and Audrey Wells. The executive producers are Ted Tannebaum, gary Lucchesi and David Madden. Ellen H. Schwartz serves as co-producer and first assistant director, and Karen Stirgwolt and Richard Wright also co-produce the film.

Roberts most recently starred in the hit film "My Best Friend's Wedding." She earned two Academy Award nominations for her roles in "Steel Magnolias" and "Pretty Woman." "Pretty Woman" was the top-grossing film of 1990. Her other films include "Conspiracy Theory," "The Pelican Brief," "Mystic Pizza," "Sleeping with the Enemy," "Flatliners," "Mary Reilly," "Pret-a-Porter" and the forthcoming "Stepmom."

Gere starred in the highly successful courtroom drama "Primal Fear," and, more recently, in the thrillers "Red Corner" and "The Jackal." In addition to "Pretty Woman" his other films include memorable roles in "An Officer and A Gentleman," "First Knight," "Sommersby," "American Gigolo," "Days of Heaven," "Looking for Mr. Goodbar," "Yanks," "Breathless" and the late Akira Kurosawa's "Rhapsody in August."

Also appearing in "Runaway Bride" are Joan Cusack, Rita Wilson, Hector Elizondo and Paul Dooley. Cusack earned two Academy Award nominations for her roles in "Working Girl" and "In & Out." Her other film credits include "Grosse Point Blank," "Broadcast News," "Addams Family Values," "Nine Months" and "Say Anything."

Wilson appears in the upcoming update of Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho." Her other film credits include "Sleepless in Seattle," "Jingle All the Way," "Now and Then" and "That Thing You Do."

Elizondo's credits include the upcoming film "The Other Sister" directed by Marshall and starring Diane Keaton and Juliette Lewis. His other film credits include "Pretty Woman," "The Flamingo Kid," "Frankie and Johnny," "Beverly Hills Cop III" and "Report to the Commissioner." He recently received an Emmy Award for his portrayal of Dr. Phillip Watters on CBS' "Chicago Hope," where he is currently in his fifth season.

Dooley's recent film work includes co-starring roles in the upcoming "Errors in Judgment" with Joe Mantegna and "The Calling" with Sean Young. He has portrayed a variety of roles over the years in such films as "Breaking Away," "Sixteen Candles," "Popeye," "A Wedding," "The Player" and "Waiting for Guffman." On stage, he recently starred with Beatrice Arthur in an extended run of the West Coast premiere of Anne Meara's "After-Play."

A veteran producer, director and writer of film, television and theater, Marshall most recently directed Keaton and Lewis in the upcoming "The Other Sister." His film credits include "Frankie and Johnny," "Beaches," "Overboard," "Nothing in Common," "The Flamingo Kid," "Exit to Eden" and "Dear God."

Marshall's television series and their performers have been nominated for 16 Emmy Awards, winning seven. Earlier in his career, Marshall and writing partner Jerry Belson also won an Emmy Award for "The Dick Van Dyke Show." Marshall has created and executive produced some of the longest-running and most celebrated comedies in American television history, including "Happy Days," "Laverne & Shirley," "The Odd Couple" and "Mork and Mindy."

"Runaway Bride" is a Paramount Pictures and Walt Disney Pictures co-production with Interscope Communications and Lakeshore Entertainment. Paramount will distribute the film in the United States and Canada, and Buena Vista International and Lakeshore International will distribute internationally.