Lalonde on a roll in Hollywood

loading...

Christian Lalonde is back in Hollywood after returning from a trip to Maine to visit his wife’s family and watch his alma mater, the University of Maine, which dropped a 7-3 men’s hockey decision to Northeastern Friday.

Lalonde, 33rd on the school’s all-time scoring list with 121 points from 1986-1990, received an early Christmas present when he learned a screenplay he helped write and develop is going to be made into a movie.

He will be one of four producers along with Eric Manes, Martin Kunert and Billy Devlin.

“It’s going to be a horror-action film. We have some financing and we may go after some more. We’re going to start casting it soon,” said Lalonde.

Lalonde said he will be working closely with Manes and will be involved in all aspects of the project. Manes has produced several films, including “3000 Miles to Graceland” with Kevin Costner and Kurt Russell.

“I’ve never been a producer before,” said Lalonde, who expects to learn a great deal from Manes.

Lalonde has written a screenplay that he termed a “fish-out-of-water comedy” for Disney, but it has yet to get the “green light” for production.

“It’s sitting on a shelf, collecting dust,” said Lalonde.

But he has kept himself busy in Hollywood.

This past summer, he worked with actor Romany Malco (“40-Year-Old Virgin,” “Blades of Glory”) and singer-actor Justin Timberlake, teaching them how to play and act like hockey players for the upcoming Mike Myers movie “The Love Guru.” It will be released in June.

He had previously worked with Cuba Gooding Jr.

The 41-year-old Lalonde spent up to six days a week for five weeks working with Malco.

He and Timberlake worked together just three days.

“They were both real good to work with,” said Lalonde, who is on strike with the Writers Guild of America.

He said Malco had never played hockey in his life, but he was a tireless worker and picked it up quickly. Lalonde also said he benefited from Malco’s conscientious nutritional regimen and wound up losing 35 pounds.

The two became good friends, he said, and Malco has grown to love hockey.

Timberlake had previous experience on roller blades and Lalonde said that helped.

Timberlake is going to be a goalie in the movie, and Lalonde said he had to scramble to borrow some goalie equipment.

The friend he borrowed the equipment from had played the previous night and “it was still damp” when Timberlake donned the gear.

Lalonde said the former ‘N Sync front man never complained, worked hard and was a quick study. Timberlake has also become a hockey fan, he said.

Lalonde has also been involved in the video hockey games produced by 2K Sports for several years, directing the movements of hockey players that are implemented into the video game.

He also plays hockey in a league that includes several celebrities, including prolific producer Jerry Bruckheimer.

Lalonde is married to his college sweetheart, Eddington’s Sonja Faulkner, and they have co-written various projects.

He said he would love to make a movie in Maine some day.

“We want to be bi-coastal. Any excuse to get back to Maine,” said Lalonde, who enjoyed his visit last weekend.

Despite the loss and the struggles Maine is having on the ice, he said, “It’s still a classy program” and always will be.

lmahoney@bangordailynews.net

990-8231