Filming to Start May 31

A publicist for Billy Bob Thornton, the actor from Arkansas, said filming of the movie “Crystal” is scheduled to begin May 31.

“He’s looking forward to coming back to Arkansas to do a movie,” said Arnold Robinson, a publicist with the public relations firm Rogers & Cowan of Los Angeles.

Rumors had circulated that Thornton and Lisa Blount — the co-star, producer and a Fayetteville native — were irritated because a press release was issued on April 28 in Arkansas about the upcoming movie, but Robinson said he wasn’t familiar with any such rift.

Filming is expected to take place primarily from Fayetteville to Eureka Springs. Northwest Arkansas beat out Tennessee as the location for the filming. It is speculated that “Crystal” will have between a $3 million-$4 million budget.

In the movie, Thornton will play an ex-convict who comes home from prison to his wife, Crystal, who is played by Blount.

The movie is being produced by Ginny Mule Pictures, which is headed by Blount, her husband Ray McKinnon and Walter Goggins. Ginny Mule Pictures produced “The Accountant,” which won the 2002 “Live Action Short” Academy Award.