SAN FRANCISCO—On August 12, Mayor Gavin Newsom announced that HBO’s newest original film "Hemingway & Gellhorn" will be shot in San Francisco.

The film, directed by Philip Kaufman, is set to star Nicole Kidman and Clive Owen in the leading roles. Written by Jerry Stahl and Barbara Turner, the film follows the tumultuous romance, marriage and subsequent divorce between Hemingway and WWII correspondent Martha Gellhorn. Nicole Kidman is set to star as Gellhorn, who served as the real life inspiration behind Hemingway’s "For Whom the Bell Tolls." Owen will play the role of the legendary writer in the James Gandolfini’s Attaboy Films production. Producers for the film include Alex Ryan, Barbara Turner, Peter Kaufman, Philip Kaufman, James Gandolfini, with Nancy Sanders and Mark Armstrong as co-executive producers.

In a press release, Mayor Newsom outlined the benefits of the film being produced in the city, “HBO’s decision to establish this production in San Francisco in a time when many projects are fleeing the state is a testament to the benefit of both the Scene in San Francisco rebate program and the State of California’s tax credit incentives for filming.’’

Mayor Newsom also thanked Bay Area residents who lobbied to get the film to San Francisco and HBO for deciding to shoot the film in the city, "Thanks to the urging of Bay Area residents Philip and Peter Kaufman, HBO saw the financial and creative benefits of basing production in our city. As a result, San Francisco residents will reap the benefits of new jobs and a multi-million dollar stimulus to our local economy.”

Facts put forth by the mayor’s office estimate that for every dollar HBO spends on producing the film locally in San Francisco, $2.95 will flow back into the city’s economy.

Furthermore, for every job created in the production of the film, 2.5 additional jobs are expected to be created in other areas. As HBO is expected to hire 250 employees for the production of "Hemingway & Gellhorn," an additional 805 jobs are also expected to be created locally.

Filming for "Hemingway & Gellhorn" is slated to begin in 2011.