The Shadow (2009 film)

The Shadow is a 2009 neo-noir superhero film based on the pulp fiction character of the same name created in 1931 by. Directed by Craig Kenney, it is the first installment of RKO Pictures and ' The Shadow film series. The film stars James St. John, Janet Snyman, Vern Crutchfield, K. J. Collins, Kenneth Angioni and Maurice Tai.

After RKO bought the film rights to The Shadow in 2004, various writers and directors were considered before Kenney and writer Nancy Messenger were brought in.

Filming took place at. Principal photography took place from December 2008 to April 2009. The budget escalated from $97.5 million to $102.9 million, while the forced Messenger to drop out of production. Kenney and Steve D. Baumann did rewrites, with additional uncredited drafts done by Terrence Rensburg and Fred Sainsbury.

The Shadow was both critically and financially successful, earning over $426 million in box office totals. Critics and audiences particularly praised the performances, Kenney's direction, the production design, and Hermansson's score.

Cast

 * James St. John as Lamont Cranston / The Shadow
 * Janet Snyman as Margo Lane
 * Vern Crutchfield as Moses "Moe" Shrevnitz
 * K. J. Collins as Harry Vincent
 * Kenneth Angioni as Basil Gannaford / Wasp
 * Maurice Tai as Shiwan Khan

Filming
The filmmakers considered filming The Shadow entirely at the RKO Pictures Studios in, but budget and union issues made them change the location. It was shot at in,  from December 1, 2008 to April 10, 2009. Locations included the doubling for, as well as the town of ,  and the.

Messenger was not allowed to perform rewrites during the. Kenney and Steve D. Baumann did rewrites. Terrence Rensburg and Fred Sainsbury rewrote the script during filming. Only Kenney and Baumann received writing credits with Messenger.