Hundreds of Native men, women and children turned out for a casting call in Montana over the weekend with the hopes of landing a role in a movie based on "Winter in the Blood."

James Welch, who was of Blackfeet and Gros Ventre ancestry, had hoped his first novel, which was published in1974, would be made into a movie. But that didn't happen before his death in 2003 at the age of 62.

Filmmakers Alex and Andrew Smith plan to change that with a production set entirely in Montana. They expect to start filming in July with a nearly all-Native cast.

"Winter in the Blood" is set on the Fort Belknap Reservation.

Get the Story:
‘Winter in the Blood’ reimagined: Work of renowned Native writer will become movie (The Missoulian 2/14)
Indian Country casting call: Auditions continue today for Montana production (The Missoulian 2/14)

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Welch, Native writer from Mont., passes on (8/6)