HOLLYWOOD ON THE POTOMAC

Celebrity Spotting: the Newest Sport in Washington, DC

As long as political intrigue films are in fashion, Washington, DC is bound to be a Hollywood darling, attracting big-budget pictures as well as small independent crews looking for authentic backdrops. If you're planning a meeting in Washington, DC, you might stumble upon actors filming a major motion picture or producers shopping for the perfect shots.

In 2006, Washington, DC played host to some of Hollywood's biggest names, and many of them were spotted in local bars and restaurants while filming on location. As you head to the movies this year, look for authentic DC backgrounds in these upcoming features (release dates are subject to change):

• "Breach": Now in theaters, this thriller starring Chris Cooper, Ryan Phillippe and Laura Linney takes a look at the capture and arrest of notorious spy Robert Hanssen.
• "Shooter": Coming to theaters Mar. 16, Danny Glover and Mark Wahlberg star in this film about a hit man framed for plotting to kill the President who goes on the run to find the real killer.
• "Evan Almighty": The sequel to "Bruce Almighty" stars Steve Carrell as a U.S. Congressman who listens to God's call to build an ark at his suburban DC home in preparation for a great flood. The movie starts Jun. 22.
• "Live Free or Die Hard": Bruce Willis brings back his popular "Die Hard" character to take on an Internet terrorist organization in this film, releasing Jun. 29. Several action-packed scenes were shot in the District.
• "Talk to Me": Releasing Jul. 20, Don Cheadle and Martin Sheen star in this story of Washington, DC radio personality Ralph "Petey" Greene, an ex-con who became a popular talk show host and community activist in the 1960s.
• "The Invasion": Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig take the lead in this film about a Washington psychiatrist who learns the source of an alien epidemic and discovers that her son may be the only way to stop it. Coming to theaters Aug.17.
• "The Kingdom": Releasing Sep.28, "The Kingdom" stars Jamie Foxx and Jennifer Garner in a story about government agents called in to investigate the bombing of an American facility in the Middle East.
• "Rendition": Starring Reese Witherspoon, Jake Gyllenhaal, Meryl Streep and Alan Arkin, the movie tells the story of a CIA analyst who calls his assignment into question after witnessing an unsettling interrogation. The movie will be in theaters on Nov.30.
• "Royal Kill": In "Karate Kid" star Pat Norita's last film, an American high school girl learns she's the last surviving heir to the Kingdom of Samarza. Filmed on the American University campus, the movie releases Dec. 1.
• "Boy of Pigs": An indie film starring Gretchen Mol, Cameron Bright and Noah Wyle tells the story of a teenage boy growing up in the 1960s in Washington, DC next to a neighbor with ties to the CIA and Cuban operatives. Release date TBD.

While these projects have finished their on-location shots in the District, there's another slate of films in the works for 2007. Look for celebrities and film crews working on the following movies and TV shows, currently under development:

• "National Treasure: Book of Secrets": Nicolas Cage and Jon Voigt star in the sequel to the 2005 hit.
• "Get Smart": Steve Carell stars as Maxwell Smart in this big screen adaptation of the classic television series.
• "Charlie Wilson's War": a political drama starring Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts and Philip Seymour Hoffman, based on a script written by Emmy-Award creator of "The West Wing," Aaron Sorkin.
• "The Bourne Ultimatum": Matt Damon reprises his role as Jason Bourne in the third installment of the series.
• "Lions for Lambs": Robert Redford acts in and directs this film examining the nation at war. The film also stars Meryl Streep and Tom Cruise.
• "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" (TV pilot): Jordana Brewster and Martin Henderson play married assassins in this new TV series.
• "Supreme Courtships" (TV pilot): A new drama starring ER's Shane West follows the professional and personal lives of male and female clerks for the Supreme Court.
• "The Washingtonienne": Sarah Jessica Parker is the force behind this half-hour HBO comedy, based on infamous Hill employee Jessica Cutler's memoirs.
• "Against All Enemies": Vince Vaughn stars in an adaptation of former White House counterterrorism adviser Richard Clarke's best-seller by writer/ director Paul Haggis ("Crash").

And even when the cameras aren't rolling, pop culture celebrities are a regular fixture in Washington, DC, often dropping by the Hill to testify on political issues and appearing at fundraising galas, concerts and other special events. Georgetown's Cafe Milano is the city's most celebrated site for star-gazing, though posh hotels like the Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton and Mandarin Oriental host their share of notables.

You can also take a tour of the city's most famous television and film sites. On Location Tours offers a three-hour tour narrated by local actors and actresses. For a schedule of public tours or for information about private charters, visit www.screentours.com.

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