Iraqnophobia : Hollywood Prepares for Cinematic Invasion

Call it “Iraqnophobia.”

The gathering military storm in Middle Eastern deserts could unleash a filmic downpour of Iraq-Kuwait inspired movies and may boost the fortunes of related films in release and production.

The co-writer of the movie “Team 6” has been dispatched to Israel from Los Angeles so he can rewrite the script, updating it with fresh references to the Persian Gulf crisis.

“Navy SEALs,” a new movie about Navy commandos in combat in the Middle East, will be promoted with a modified advertising campaign this weekend that will try to link the action title to last week’s invasion.

And other companies--including the Walt Disney Co. with its movie “The Ultimatum”--have films already in development whose focus on Middle Eastern terrorists will have sudden relevance.

“The movies are entertainment; you go there fantasizing what we wish we could do in Iraq,” said actor Chuck Norris, whose 1986 film “Delta Force” was about a plane hijacked by Middle Eastern terrorists.

Norris said the sequel “Delta Force III,” starring his son Mike, is also set in the Middle East and “is closely related to what’s happening now.” Norris and several film producers said they expected an increase in the number of movies related to the area.

“Team 6,” which will begin filming for 21st Century Film Corp. on Sept. 24, was first a story about Navy SEALs attacking a missile installation in a generic Middle Eastern country. After Iraq moved into Kuwait, the story was changed. The Navy unit will now invade Iraq to disable chemical-weapon laden missiles aimed at U.S. ships.

“History is writing the script for us,” said Menahem Golan, the chairman of 21st Century who hopes the film will be in theaters by early 1991. “I only hope I’m first.”

“Navy SEALs,” which is playing to modest business in the nation’s theaters, could improve its fortunes at the box office this weekend because the Middle East is so much in the news, the film’s producer said.

Orion Pictures plans to introduce a new ad campaign this weekend that will seek to link the film to the Middle East crisis without mentioning Iraq specifically, said a Orion spokesman.

Disney’s Touchstone Pictures has in development the film “The Ultimatum.” In it, an American city will be destroyed by a nuclear bomb planted by Middle Eastern terrorists if the American government does not order all Jews out of Jerusalem.

The script for the project languished for three years until the Middle East became a focus of world tensions this year.