Shubhabrata Dutta
Directed by James Kent, the Lifetime thriller movie ‘Stolen Girl’ borrows from real life to show how a mother goes to inconceivable lengths to get her daughter back after she is abducted by the former’s ex-husband. The narrative follows Maureen Danning, whose life is shattered after her four-year-old daughter Amina disappears. Police investigation reveals that Maureen’s ex-husband, Karim, has cleaned out his residence, pointing to the possibility that he has taken Amina, of whom he shares custody with Maureen, to Syria. For the next decade, Maureen searches for Amina by calling hospitals in the Middle East to ask for her daughter, protesting in Washington, DC, and lobbying for laws that prevent parents from abducting their children.
Maureen is eventually approached by Mitchell Robeson, who operates a private company specialising in rescuing children. He offers Maureen a job of helping them in exchange for assisting in the search for Amina. As the search begins, Maureen learns about other kidnappings around the world and aids in finding kidnapped children while keeping hope alive for her little girl. The visuals of ‘Stolen Girl’ capture the essence of the search-and-rescue mission for which Maureen and Mitchell travel to various locations, which serve as the beautiful pieces of an overwhelming jigsaw.
Where Was Stolen Girl Filmed?
A majority of ‘Stolen Girl’ was filmed in the Apulia region of Italy, specifically in the provinces of Taranto and Lecce, while the rest was shot in Washington, DC. Principal photography reportedly began in the second week of May 2024 and continued for over a month before wrapping up in the last week of June the same year. Actor Scott Eastwood took to social media to express his love for the experience and the crew. “The actors get remembered because they end up on screen. But it’s the crew that makes them. Every one of these movies is a life experience we all share together. This crew cared about every detail, and I love that!!!” he stated.
Province of Taranto, Italy
Apulia, AKA Puglia, in Italy, became the base for the filming of ‘Stolen Girl.’ The crew accessed the streets of the province of Taranto, known for its historic architecture, which dates back to the 15th century. Various action sequences and outdoor scenes featuring Maureen and Mitchell’s team looking for targets who have kidnapped kids were shot there. The old-world charm of the province, combined with a modern narrative, takes the Lifetime thriller to a whole new level. In the town of Martina Franca, several scenes were filmed around Basilica Di San Martino, at 1, Via Masaniello. Some outdoor shots were also taped at the Palazzo del Governo, AKA the Government Palace, located at 4, Via Anfiteatro. It is the seat of the Prefecture and the provincial administration. Some of the must-visit spots in Taranto include San Francesco de Paola Bridge, Taranto Cathedral, and the Aragon Castle.
Province of Lecce, Italy
The production team also set up shop in the province of Lecce for shooting indoor and outdoor scenes. The province is famous for its buildings of Baroque architecture. In the town of Maglie, a few shots were recorded in and around Palazzo Arabesco Aprile, located at 54, Via Trento e Trieste. It is a palace-turned-banquet hall offering space for private and corporate events and ceremonies. The crew also went to the coastal town of Otranto, considered one of Italy’s most beautiful villages, to tape some scenes and enhance the movie’s canvas. Some of the popular sites in the province are the Church of Santa Croce, Church of San Giovanni Battista, Lecce Cathedral, and Piazza Sant’Oronzo.
Metropolitan City of Bari, Italy
The third Italian location the production team opted for is the Metropolitan City of Bari, formerly the province of Bari, in Apulia. It went to the capital city of Bari, which serves as a port city and is one of the most important economic centres in Italy. It has the longest seafront in Europe and is also known as the the city of “Santa Claus,” since it serves as the home to the Basilica of Saint Nicholas. All these characteristics have made Bari a popular international filming location. Some of the hotspots the city is famous for include Teatro Petruzzelli, Palazzo Mincuzzi, Basilica of Saint Nicholas, and Teatro Margherita.
Washington, DC
Additional scenes of ‘Stolen Girl’ were shot in Washington, DC. It is the home of the US Capitol and other federal government agencies, making it an apt choice for the story. Establishing shots of the city were also taken. One of the most-visited cities in the US and the world, it boasts iconic monuments steeped in the country’s history, including the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, the Smithsonian Museums, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.
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Stolen Girl Cast Details
The cast of ‘Stolen Girl’ is led by Kate Beckinsale and Scott Eastwood. Kate studied French and Russian literature as a college student at the University of Oxford. She also knows German. She is involved in various charitable efforts and social causes, including the Elton John AIDS Foundation, Eva Longoria Foundation, EB Medical Research Foundation, FilmAid International, Habitat for Humanity, and Rape Foundation. Scott is a dog lover and an adrenaline junkie, with an immense love for surfing and cliff diving. Like Kate, he is also involved in social work. Some of the charities and foundations he is involved with include the American Humane Association, Davidoff Love the Ocean, and the Surfrider Foundation.
Kate Beckinsale as Maureen Danning
Kate Beckinsale plays Maureen Danning, the protagonist of the story, whose daughter is kidnapped by her husband. Beckinsale is known for playing Selene in the ‘Underworld’ movies. Her other well-known roles are Evelyn Johnson in ‘Pearl Harbor,’ Sara Thomas in ‘Serendipity,’ Ava Gardner in ‘The Aviator,’ Lady Susan Vernon in ‘Love & Friendship,’ and Anna Valerious in ‘Van Helsing.’ As far as TV shows are concerned, we can see her as Beth Burgess in ‘Guilty Party’ and Georgia Wells in ‘The Widow.’
Scott Eastwood as Mitchell Robeson
Scott Eastwood, son of Clint Eastwood, portrays Mitchell Robeson, who recruits Maureen to his team and helps her find her daughter. Some of the popular movies he is a part of include ‘Suicide Squad’ as Navy SEAL Lieutenant “GQ” Edwards, ‘The Fate Of The Furious’ as law enforcement agent Little Nobody, ‘Fast X’ as Little Nobody, ‘Pacific Rim: Uprising’ as Nathan “Nate” Lambert, and ‘Wrath of Man’ as Jan “Number 1.” He also plays Jim Barnes in ‘Chicago Fire.’ A familiar face in action movies, he stars alongside Robert De Niro and Jamie Foxx in ‘Tin Soldier’ and alongside Sylvester Stallone in ‘Alarum.’
While Beckinsale and Eastwood star as the leads, ‘Stolen Girl’ has a talented supporting cast that includes Jordan Duvigneau as Carl, Arvin Kananian as Karim, Alejandra Howard as Amina, Matt Craven as Joe, Ana Golja as Nora, and Talia Asseraf as Natalie. The additional cast comprises Robert Farrior as Lewis, Nowar Yusuf as Dasia, and Jon Kellam as Frank. Joining them are Massimo McQueen as the cowboy, Paten Hughes as the Ohio Detective, Maria Laila Fernandez as Maya, Craig Peritz as the detective, Stefano Sergio as the courier, Maddalena Vallecchi Williams as the world-weary woman, and Nikki Taylor as an American tourist.
