HOLLYWOOD stars descended on North Kent this week to film scenes for a new movie (Jenni Horn writes).

Legendary funny man and film director, Woody Allen, along with Irish heart-throb Colin Farrell and Scotsman Ewan McGregor, arrived in Hoo, near Rochester, to shoot part of a film due to be released next year.

The production, currently known only as Woody Allen’s Summer Project 2006, follows the story of two brothers (Farrell and McGregor) who suffer severe financial troubles and turn to crime to solve their problems. But their plan goes wrong and they become enemies. It is thought the rest of the action is set in London, where filming began last month.

Farrell, who stars in the film Miami Vice, and McGregor, who appeared in Star Wars and Trainspotting, were at Hoo Marina on Monday and Tuesday to film scenes aboard Cassandra’s Dream.

Director and writer of the movie Woody Allen was also on site along with relatively unknown actress Hayley Atwell who plays McGregor’s love interest.

The film also features British actor Tom Wilkinson who starred in Batman Begins.

Hoo Marina was a hub of activity as camera men, security guards, crew and press milled around.

FULL STORY IN THIS WEEK'S MEDWAY MESSENGER