The Beverly Hills Cop is coming to the Mile High City.

Nowhereland, a major motion picture starring Eddie Murphy, will begin filming in Denver in October, according to Colorado Film Commissioner Kevin Shand.

Produced by Paramount Pictures, the comedy will shoot in Denver for two weeks and could generate significant revenue. Shand says the average big studio production spends about $100,000 a day filming on location.

"This is a very exciting opportunity for Colorado. We hope this and other opportunities will help lift the lid off of the secret of Colorado as a great venue for film production," Gov. Bill Ritter said in a statement. The governor's office will make a formal announcement this morning.

"The movie was specifically written for Denver," Shand said. "There are some character traits they want to portray that Denver has the right feel for."

Murphy will play a "financial executive who can't stop his career down-spiral and is invited into his daughter's imaginary world, where solutions to his problems await," according to the Internet Movie Database Web site.

Ginger White, senior economic development specialist for the Denver Office of Cultural Affairs, said her office has been contacted about the production. She said she expects filming to take place "in all points of the city."

While most scenes will be shot elsewhere, the production could provide work for local film industry professionals. Shand said the studio has hired a Denver-based location scout and additional crew and extras could be added.

The last big movies to have scenes shot in Colorado include Resurrecting the Champ and Catch and Release.

Colorado has a little money to entice filmmakers, but most take their business elsewhere where funding is more plentiful. New Mexico has attracted far more films of late because it offers 25 percent rebates to filmmakers. Texas recently approved $22 million in incentives for producers.

Nowhereland will be directed by Karey Kirkpatrick, who directed the 2006 animated film Over the Hedge. The production company is Di Bonaventura Pictures, which also is slated to produce Beverly Hills Cop IV.

On location in Denver: 'Nowhereland'

Scenes from a comedy starring Eddie Murphy will be shot in Denver this fall, one of the few major motion pictures using Colorado as a backdrop in recent years.

• Timing: Filming is expected to begin in the fall and last about two weeks here, while the film's release is scheduled for Sept. 2008.

• Director: Karey Kirkpatrick, who directed 2006's Over the Hedge.

• Writers: Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon (Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure).

kelleyj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5068