By ED TIMMS

Texans who've spent time inside or outside two Huntsville-area prisons may see some familiar scenery in a new movie starring Kevin Spacey and Kate Winslet that is scheduled to be released this fall.

Portions of the movie, The Life of David Gale, were filmed outside the Walls Unit and the Ellis Unit in November and December. Other segments were shot in Austin.

The thriller casts Mr. Spacey, a two-time Academy Award winner, as a "devoted father, popular professor and respected death penalty opponent," according to a Universal Pictures synopsis, who ends up on death row for the rape and murder of fellow activist Constance Hallaway, played by actress Laura Linney.

Ms. Winslet, of Titanic fame, portrays a "Pulitzer-hungry" reporter, Bitsey Bloom, who gets an exclusive interview with Mr. Spacey's character only three days before his scheduled execution, according to the synopsis. Ms. Bloom puts her life in jeopardy and "frantically races to piece together the shocking events surrounding Constance's death before it's too late."

Alan Parker – whose film credits include Midnight Express, Angel Heart and Mississippi Burning – directed The Life of David Gale. Mr. Parker produced the movie with Nicolas Cage.

"We allowed them on some of our external property to make the movie," said Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokesman Larry Todd.

Mr. Todd said the movie is purported to be "neither pro nor con on the death penalty" but is supposed to "stimulate one's thinking."