Sam Rockwell as Zaphod Beeblebrox in "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy."

CALGARY - The show must go on. Brad Pitt left Calgary this past weekend for a short sojourn in New York.

He is rumoured to be spending time with his companion Angelina Jolie and her children Maddox and Zahara in New York where she is filming The Good Shepherd with Matt Damon.

In his absence at least two actors have been added to the cast of The Assassination of Jesse James.

Sources inform the Sun that Sam Shepard and Sam Rockwell will star opposite Pitt, Casey Affleck and Mary Louise Parker in this $30-million duster about the murder of outlaw Jesse James.

The first time Shepard, 61, came to Alberta was in 1977 to film a small role in Days of Heaven.

Shepard's films include Raggedy Man, The Right Stuff, Crimes of the Heart, Swordfish, Stealth and 1982's Frances on which he met Jessica Lange, his companion of 23 years.

Rockwell, 36, has appeared in The Green Mile, Charles' Angels, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Filming of Jesse James began Monday with scenes that do not involve Pitt's character.

Pitt will return to Alberta later this week so he can begin filming in Edmonton's Fort Edmonton Park.

The shoot in Edmonton is scheduled to last three weeks before returning to the Calgary area.

Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel has implored citizens of his city to respect the filming process.

"As Edmonton continues to position itself as a major film location, it is important that the industry feels welcome and views Edmonton as a film-friendly, professional destination," said Mandel.

He added he's "confident the filming of The Assassination of Jesse James in the province is a sign of great things to come in Alberta's growing film industry."

-- SUN STAFF

More Artists