Governor Pat Quinn Seeks Out Superman

(Chicago, IL) – September 14, 2011. After thrashing energy giant ComEd on Monday, Governor Pat Quinn yesterday went looking for Superman.

Quinn zoomed over to the Chicago production set of the new Superman movie “Man of Steel” to flex some gubernatorial muscle and to highlight the Illinois film industry’s record $161 million in spending in 2010, a nearly super-human 54% increase from 2009.

Illinois film production generated more than 8,000 job hires in 2010, according to Quinn. The “Man of Steel” hauled 550 jobs, tucked under his arm, into Illinois alone, including Chicagoan Michael Shannon, who stars in the film as General Zod.

“With major movie productions like Man of Steel coming to Illinois, the film industry is continuing to strengthen our state’s economy and create thousands of jobs,” Quinn said.

With the filming of “Man of Steel”, several major television shows and multiple commercial productions that have already filmed in the state this year, 2011.

“Man of Steel” began production in late July in and around Plano, where the city was transformed into Clark Kent’s hometown of Smallville. Political kryptonite kept film production away from Springfield.

Superman rescued the film crew from Plano and moved them to Chicago on September 7.

The film stars Henry Cavill as Clark Kent, Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Kevin Costner and Diane Lane as Clark’s parents, Laurence Fishburne as Daily Planet Editor Perry White and Russell Crowe as Jor-El, Clark’s biological father.

The Illinois’ film industry 2010 record $161 million topped the $155 million spent in 2007.

Earlier this year, Quinn, playing Governor Pat Quinn, helped dedicate a new soundstage development, Cinespace Chicago Film Studios. The new studio will include 1.2 million square feet of space, and is located on 48.2 acres at the site of the old Ryerson Steel property on the near southwest side of Chicago between Ogden and Western Avenues.

After his tour, Quinn, re-energized, flew out of sight.