An All-Star Ensemble Cast Begins Filming on Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Contagion” under the Direction of Steven Soderbergh

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Principal photography is underway on Warner Bros. Pictures’ global thriller “Contagion,” being directed by Academy Award^® winner Steven Soderbergh (“Traffic”). “Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief”

The film brings together a stellar international ensemble cast, including Academy Award^®® winner Matt Damon (“Good Will Hunting,” the “Bourne” films); Oscar^® nominee Laurence Fishburne (“What’s Love Got to Do With It,” “The Matrix”); Oscar^® nominee Jude Law (“Cold Mountain,” “Sherlock Holmes”); Academy Award^® winner Gwyneth Paltrow (“Shakespeare in Love,” “Iron Man”); and Academy Award^® winner Kate Winslet (“The Reader,” “Titanic”). winner Marion Cotillard (“La Vie en Rose,” “Inception”); Academy Award

“Contagion” follows the rapid progress of a lethal airborne virus that kills within days. As the fast-moving epidemic grows, the worldwide medical community races to find a cure and control the panic that spreads faster than the virus itself. At the same time, ordinary people struggle to survive in a society coming apart.

The original screenplay is written by Scott Z. Burns (“The Bourne Ultimatum,” “The Informant!”). “Contagion” is being produced by Michael Shamberg, Stacey Sher (“World Trade Center”), and Gregory Jacobs (“The Informant!”).

Collaborating with Soderbergh behind the scenes are production designer Howard Cummings (“Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief”), Oscar^®-winning editor Stephen Mirrione (“Traffic”), and costume designer Louise Frogley (“Quantum of Solace,” “Ocean’s Thirteen”).

Filming will take place on location around the world, including sites in Hong Kong, Macao, Chicago, Atlanta, San Francisco, Abu Dhabi, London and Geneva.

“Contagion” will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. The film is slated for release in October 2011.