Some local residents will finally get to see their faces on the big screen when the movie “Constellation” is released two years after filming.

Filmed in Huntsville, the movie is set for release in late October, said director Jordan Walker Pearlman, who is in Huntsville this week.

“Constellation” will likely hit local theaters Oct. 20 or Oct. 27, he said, but that date could change.

“I have a distribution agreement to have it released in Huntsville at the same time it’s released in Los Angeles and New York,” Pearlman said. “It’s so important to me that the people in the Huntsville and Decatur area get to see the movie no later than anyone else.”

A red-carpet premiere will also be held in Huntsville before it opens in theaters, but Pearlman does not have a place or date set.

Several people in Huntsville were principal backers of the film, which stars Billy Dee Williams, Lesley Ann Warren, Rae Dawn Chong, Gabrielle Union, Hill Harper and Zoe Saldana. A Huntsville student, Tre Rogers, was chosen to play the young Helms Boxer (played as an adult by Williams). Rogers went on to play a role in “Madea’s Family Reunion,” released earlier this year, and the Cuba Gooding Jr. film “Dirty” in 2005.

Release of a film in more than 300 theaters across the country is considered a “wide release,” Pearlman said, and distributor Code Black Entertainment plans to put “Constellation” in from 800-1,000 theaters. Typically, films are released in Los Angeles and New York first, then in theaters toward the center of the country, Pearlman said.

The “Constellation” release is being referred to as a “Southern blast,” starting here and working upward.

The screenplay, written by Pearlman, is the story of an African American man who returns to the South for a funeral. During his visit, his interracial family comes to terms with the past.

Pearlman said he fell in love with Huntsville while visiting a friend and sees it as a progressive Southern city. He hired as many local people for production as he could and used locals as extras.

Shannon Kazek, 13, who is one of about 800 local and area residents who worked as extras, said she is excited about the opportunity to see herself in the film. She and some other children can be seen on screen for a few seconds playing in Big Spring Park as actress Zoe Saldana (who starred in “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Drumline”) walks past.

The film was initially screened for investors and invited guests in January 2005 at the Regal Hollywood 18 theater in south Huntsville, and was screened again Wednesday night at The Ledges.

Filming was completed in June 2004 at sites such as Huntsville International Airport, EarlyWorks Museum, The Ledges and Humphrey’s Bar and Grill.

The journey to create “Constellation,” the second feature Pearlman wrote and directed after 2000’s “The Visit,” was a long one.

“I’m absolutely exhausted,” he said. “I’ve been traveling all over the world.” He and Union (who starred in “Bring It On” and many other films and television shows) recently went to South Africa, one of many places where he has promoted the film.

“Constellation” has received accolades at several film festivals, and won the audience award at the 2005 Urban World Film Festival and the Denver Pan African Film Festival.

Pearlman became so enamored with Huntsville that he had a home downtown until a few months ago.

He is now house hunting in Huntsville, he said.

“I plan to make Huntsville my third home and put down roots here,” said Pearlman, who also has homes in Los Angeles and New York. He said he would love to move to the area permanently when he is about 50 or so, but currently, there are not enough cultural activities for people in their 20s.

He hopes to help change that by contributing to cultural and art programs.

“I’ve met so many talented people here,” he said. “There are so many exciting things happening.”