Donnie Wahlberg photos from 'The Zookeeper' set

A crew of hardcore Donnie Wahlberg supporters snapped a few photos on Saturday, Sept. 12 of the Dorchester homeboy on the set of the made-in-Boston flick "The Zookeeper," starring Kevin James, Rosario Dawson and Leslie Bibb.

"Four of us waited from 7 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. in the pouring rain for him to come out," recalls Wahlberg fan Melissa Buja, who says the native was "super sweet" and accommodating off set. "The other four arrived around 1 p.m. Are we diehards or what?!"

Wahlberg has been tweeting about his behind-the-scenes experiences from the Franklin Park Zoo's elaborate mini-zoo set near the Giraffe Entrance of the park located at 1 Franklin Park Rd.

"Heading to the set. Amazing to come back to Franklin Park to 'work' after all these years! Just a whole different type of work," he writes, adding that he grew out his facial hair during filming.

"The Zookeeper" follows James as a zoo caretaker who consults with the animals in an attempt to learn their methods of dating and mating to help him win back the woman of his dreams. Rosario Dawson has been cast as Kate, the smart zoo veterinarian who works alongside James' character Griffin. Leslie Bibb plays Stephanie, the ex who broke Griffin's heart.

In contrast to James' character, Wahlberg is playing a zookeeper who detests the furry critters under his watch.

Meanwhile, the made-in-Boston TV pilot "Bunker Hill," starring Wahlberg and Bridget Moynahan, wasn't picked up by TNT for the fall but could make the network lineup later.

Click here for the latest on "The Zookeeper."--Photos courtesy of Melissa Buja

Man falls into 'The Zookeeper' film's faux lion pit

Contrary to initial reports, a 27-year-old Dorchester man--and not a teen--fell about 30 feet into a former gorilla enclosure refurbished into a fake lion's den at the Franklin Park Zoo for the made-in-Boston flick "The Zookeeper," starring Kevin James, Rosario Dawson and Donnie Wahlberg.

According to State Police, Arnold Milfort suffered minor injuries and his fall was broken by a net after trying to climb into the off-limits filming area of "The Zookeeper," around 3:45 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2. Because it's part of the movie set, no lions were in the pit.

The man was removed from the movie-set den by the Boston Fire Department and transported to Boston Medical Center. Milfort remains hospitalized with a sore back and has not been charged.

The police report states: "A member of the production crew told State Police that Milfort gained access to the closed set by claiming falsely that he was a zoo employee. Witnesses reported that he tripped and fell into the den shortly before 3:45 p.m."

Primary filming of "The Zookeeper" kicked off in late August at the Franklin Park Zoo's elaborate mini-zoo set near the Giraffe Entrance of the park located at 1 Franklin Park Rd.

"The Zookeeper" set resembles a Hollywood-style movie lot swarming with production staff on golf carts and lighting rigs peering behind off-limits structures built for filming purposes only.

There are several "no food or drinks" signs on "The Zookeeper" set at the park's elaborate mini-zoo location.

"The Zookeeper" follows James as a zoo caretaker who consults with the animals in an attempt to learn their methods of dating and mating to help him win back the woman of his dreams. Rosario Dawson has been cast as Kate, the smart zoo veterinarian who works alongside James' character Griffin. Leslie Bibb plays Stephanie, the ex who broke Griffin's heart.

In contrast to James' character, Wahlberg is set to play a zookeeper who detests the furry critters under his watch.

The movie-set mishap at the Franklin Park Zoo punctuates a handful of incidents involving overzealous fans trying too close to the Boston-area filming action.

Amy Adams, co-starring alongside Dorchester native Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale in the recently wrapped flick "The Fighter," had a close call with a fan on Thursday, July 16 while on set at the Paul Tsongas Arena located at 300 Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Lowell.

Adams was approached by a guy in his late teens, early 20s climbing the steps outside of her trailer who claimed to be looking for his cousin.

Watertown native Eliza Dushku described a similar incident via Twitter while filming the psychological thriller "Valediction."

Click here for the latest on "The Zookeeper."

Donnie Wahlberg hosting birthday bash at Rumor

Celebrating his 40th birthday in style, homeboy Donnie Wahlberg spilled via Twitter here that he's hosting a big b-day bash at Rumor Night Club located at 100 Warrenton St. kicking off at 10 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27.

Tickets are $25. Click here for details.

Meanwhile, Wahlberg has joined the made-in-Boston flick "The Zookeeper," starring Kevin James and Rosario Dawson.

The NKOTB trailblazer spilled the news via Twitter here: "For those wondering what my wardrobe session was all about yesterday," he writes. "Now ya know ... I'm doing the movie 'Zookeeper' with Kevin James and Rosario Dawson."

Primary filming of "The Zookeeper" kicked off last week at the Franklin Park Zoo's elaborate mini-zoo set near the Giraffe Entrance of the park located at 1 Franklin Park Rd.

"The Zookeeper" set resembled a Hollywood-style movie lot swarming with production staff on golf carts and lighting rigs peering behind off-limits structures built for filming purposes only.

"The Zookeeper" follows James as a zoo caretaker who consults with the animals in an attempt to learn their methods of dating and mating to help him win back the woman of his dreams. In contrast to James' character, Wahlberg is set to play a zookeeper who detests the furry critters under his watch.

In addition to "The Zookeeper," Wahlberg is waiting to get a greenlight for "Bunker Hill," the made-in-Charlestown TV pilot for TNT where he plays Mike Moriarty, a Boston cop determined to protect the streets he grew up on from crime and corruption.

Click here for the latest on "The Zookeeper."

Do not feed the animals on 'The Zookeeper' set

There are several "no food or drinks" signs on "The Zookeeper" set at the park's elaborate mini-zoo location near the Giraffe Entrance of the Franklin Park Zoo located at 1 Franklin Park Rd.

Word is that production crews have shipped in a few animals to the set to coincide with the creature cast voiced by celebrities including Adam Sandler, Cher, Jon Favreau, Sylvester Stallone and Judd Apatow.

The five will voice animals at the zoo where keeper James longs for his female love interest played by Dawson. Sandler will be the voice of a capuchin monkey while Cher is slotted to be a giraffe. Favreau has been cast as a bear, Stallone as a lion and Apatow as an elephant.

There's a giant stone wall on the off-limits set, with telescopes and street lamps, which resembles the facade of a mini zoo within the zoo. As previously reported in Loaded Gun, the structures are built for filming purposes only.

In "The Zookeeper," Kevin James plays a zoo caretaker who consults with the animals in an attempt to learn their methods of dating and mating to help him win back the woman of his dreams. Rosario Dawson has been cast as Kate, the smart zoo veterinarian who works alongside James' character Griffin. Leslie Bibb plays Stephanie, the ex who broke Griffin's heart.

Also, Dorchester homeboy Donnie Wahlberg has joined the cast of the made-in-Boston flick.

Click here for the latest on "The Zookeeper."

Native Donnie Wahlberg joins 'The Zookeeper' cast

Dorchester homeboy and NKOTB trailblazer Donnie Wahlberg has joined the made-in-Boston flick "The Zookeeper," starring Kevin James and Rosario Dawson.

Wahlberg spilled the news via Twitter here: "For those wondering what my wardrobe session was all about yesterday," he writes. "Now ya know ... I'm doing the movie 'Zookeeper' with Kevin James and Rosario Dawson."

Preliminary filming of "The Zookeeper" kicked off Monday, July 20 at the Franklin Park Zoo's elaborate mini-zoo set near the Giraffe Entrance of the park located at 1 Franklin Park Rd. Primary filming is slotted for mid August.

Slotted to film during regular park hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., "The Zookeeper" set resembled a Hollywood-style movie lot swarming with production staff on golf carts and lighting rigs peering behind off-limits structures built for filming purposes only.

"The Zookeeper" follows James as a zoo caretaker who consults with the animals in an attempt to learn their methods of dating and mating to help him win back the woman of his dreams.

Adam Sandler, Cher, Jon Favreau, Sylvester Stallone and Judd Apatow have signed on as animal voices. The five reportedly will voice animals at the zoo where keeper James longs for his female love interest played by Dawson. Sandler will be the voice of a capuchin monkey while Cher is slotted to be a giraffe. Favreau has been cast as a bear, Stallone as a lion and Apatow as an elephant.

In addition to "The Zookeeper," Wahlberg is waiting to get a greenlight for "Bunker Hill," the made-in-Charlestown TV pilot for TNT where he plays Mike Moriarty, a Boston cop determined to protect the streets he grew up on from crime and corruption.

The Dorchester native adds, "Here is the beauty of going 24 hours a day--a movie, a TV series, exec producing Jimmy Marsh, making more music w/ The Block. NO SWEAT!"

Click here for the latest on "The Zookeeper."

First signs of 'The Zookeeper' filming in Boston?

Loaded Gun spotted a "ZK" sign on Sunday, June 28 around the Symphony Hall area leading crews down Massachusetts Avenue toward Dudley Square.

Could it be preliminary filming for the upcoming made-in-Massachusetts flick "The Zookeeper," starring Kevin James and Rosario Dawson?

As previously reported, a majority of the scenes for "The Zookeeper" are slotted to be shot at Franklin Park Zoo located at 1 Franklin Park Rd. and the Stone Zoo in Stoneham.

Production is scheduled to kick off on July 20. And a source confirms that there will be specific areas of the zoo that will be renovated, paid for by a donation made by the production company.

James, finishing up scenes at Woodman's of Essex with Sandler and crew for the ultimate buddy flick "Grown Ups," will play the title role in the film produced by Sandler's Happy Madison Productions. In "The Zookeeper," he plays a zoo caretaker who consults with the animals in an attempt to learn their methods of dating and mating to help him win back the woman of his dreams.

Adam Sandler, Cher, Jon Favreau, Sylvester Stallone and Judd Apatow have signed on as animal voices. The five reportedly will voice animals at the zoo where keeper James longs for his female love interest played by Dawson. Sandler will be the voice of a capuchin monkey while Cher is slotted to be a giraffe. Favreau has been cast as a bear, Stallone as a lion and Apatow as an elephant.

Click here for the latest on "The Zookeeper."

UPDATE: According to a Loaded Gun source, "Kevin James was sighted at Franklin Park Zoo Saturday morning with a crowd of people surveying the set."

--Photo by Sam Baltrusis

Cher, Stallone ready to roar in 'The Zookeeper' film

Adam Sandler, Cher, Jon Favreau, Sylvester Stallone and Judd Apatow have signed on as animal voices in the upcoming made-in-Massachusetts flick "The Zookeeper," starring Kevin James and Rosario Dawson.

The five reportedly will voice animals at the zoo where keeper James longs for his female love interest played by Dawson. Sandler will be the voice of a capuchin monkey while Cher is slotted to be a giraffe. Favreau has been cast as a bear, Stallone as a lion and Apatow as an elephant.

As previously reported, a majority of the film's scenes are slotted to be shot at Franklin Park Zoo located at 1 Franklin Park Rd. and the Stone Zoo in Stoneham.

Production is scheduled to kick off in July, confirms that there will be specific areas of the zoo that will be renovated, paid for by a donation made by the production company.

James, currently filming scenes at Woodman's of Essex with Sandler and crew for the ultimate buddy flick "Grown Ups," will play the title role in the film produced by Sandler's Happy Madison Productions. In "The Zookeeper," he plays a zoo caretaker who consults with the animals in an attempt to learn their methods of dating and mating to help him win back the woman of his dreams.

Production crews plan to shell out major money to spruce up the Franklin Park Zoo, with renovations and landscaping slotted to benefit the non-profit zoo for an extended period even after the production is done.

Loaded Gun Boston reader Craig Rabe says "he noticed that the production crew for 'The Zookeeper' has taken over a large part of the middle of the zoo to create a set." Rabe confirmed with a zoo official that designers "are spending at least the next six weeks building the set," with design beginning in late May.

A release dates is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 8, 2010. Click here for the latest on "The Zookeeper."