According to RioFilme director/president Sérgio Sá Leitão on his Twitter page, "we've made it possible to film Breaking Dawn in Rio. In order to bring in more investments, promote the city, and make the movie more realistic."
Brazilian companies Total e Zoar will handle the production in Rio, as reported in the Rio daily O Globo, while "sources close to the production" claim that Rio's old Lapa neighborhood (in the not-too-distant past well known for its male and transvestite sex workers) and an islet off the coast of Rio (outside the city proper) would be Isle Esme, where Edward Cullen and Bella Swan spend their fateful honeymoon.
(The islets off the coast of the colonial town of Paraty had been mentioned as strong possibilities for Isle Esme. Now, why'd they be filming Breaking Dawn scenes in Lapa is unclear, since the city of Rio is barely mentioned in Stephenie Meyer's novel.)
In that newspaper, Leitão explains that "we want to consolidate Rio's position as Brazil's top destination for foreign producers. The city will be portrayed in a very positive manner in [Breaking Dawn], a blockbuster that will be seen by millions of people all over the world, promoting Rio [that way]."
As per an unconfirmed report in O Globo's gossip/local news column "Cool People," Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart would be flying down to Rio next Friday, Nov. 5, to check out the area while staying at the posh Copacabana Palace. Actual filming would take place later in the month.
Answering a query about the possibility of Pattinson and Stewart taking part at a local Twilight fan event, Leitão tweeted that it would be impossible for security reasons.
"We want everything to run smoothly and according to schedule," he added. "It's a movie shoot, not a media junket. [Filming] conditions are determined by the producers."
Leitão also stated that "every security measure will be taken to ensure a smooth shoot. Both the city and the state governments will provide the necessary support."
According to reports released in late summer, Summit Entertainment had been considering filming part of Breaking Dawn in Rio, but Summit executives had changed their minds following a slum gang vs. police shootout that left one person dead in one of Rio's upscale neighborhoods.
Negotiations had begun in 2009 in Los Angeles. Breaking Dawn "producers" (and/or Summit executives) had been scouting the Rio area since last July.
According to Leitão, Breaking Dawn's five-day shoot will add US$2m to Rio's economy.
Last week, Leitão announced that Fast Five would be filming in Rio in November as well.
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