WATERVILLE – The director of “Empire Falls” returned to central Maine for an advance showing Wednesday night of the HBO movie based on Richard Russo’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about an economically depressed town whose mill had closed.

A red carpet at the entrance to the Waterville Opera House was part of the Hollywood-style glitz on display at the invitation-only event that drew Russo, director Fred Schepisi, author Stephen King and Gov. John Baldacci, along with local VIPs and local residents who appeared as extras in the movie.

Much of the filming took place in Waterville and Skowhegan more than a year ago and the movie is scheduled to make its two-part HBO premiere on May 28-29.

Russo said he was pleased at the film, which stars Paul Newman, Ed Harris, Joanne Woodward and Helen Hunt.

“It’s a very handsome movie – I saw in it New York last week,” he said. “The cast blows the doors off.”