Few moments in the Cape Fear's history can claim to be as influential as the arrival of "Firestarter," the feature film adaptation of Stephen King's novel that launched the local film industry in 1983.

Released on May 11, 1984, the film starring Drew Barrymore turns 35 this year. To celebrate, Cape Fear Unearthed revisits the production's history, explores why Hollywood producer Dino De Laurentiis came to Wilmington in the first place and looks at it how laid the groundwork for the transformative industry that would emerge from it.

Joining the episode is special guest Martha De Laurentiis, the associate producer of "Firestarter" and influential figure in the establishment of film's presence in North Carolina. She is now the president of The De Laurentiis Company.

Cape Fear Unearthed is written, edited and hosted by Hunter Ingram.

Additional editing by Adam Fish. Recorded at WHQR in downtown Wilmington.

A StarNews Media Production. This season is sponsored by Northchase Family Dentistry.

Sources:

"Wilm on Film," by Amy Hotz and Ben Steelman

Various Wilmington StarNews editions, August-November 1983

New Hanover County Library archive records and photos

"Dino: The Life and Films of Dino De Laurentiis," by Tullio Zekich and Alessandra Levantesi

Few moments in the Cape Fear's history can claim to be as influential as the arrival of "Firestarter," the feature film adaptation of Stephen King's novel that launched the local film industry in 1983.
Released on May 11, 1984, the film starring Drew Barrymore turns 35 this year. To celebrate, Cape Fear Unearthed revisits the production's history, explores why Hollywood producer Dino De Laurentiis came to Wilmington in the first place and looks at it how laid the groundwork for the transformative industry that would emerge from it.
Joining the episode is special guest Martha De Laurentiis, the associate producer of "Firestarter" and influential figure in the establishment of film's presence in North Carolina. She is now the president of The De Laurentiis Company.
Cape Fear Unearthed is written, edited and hosted by Hunter Ingram.
Additional editing by Adam Fish. Recorded at WHQR in downtown Wilmington.
A StarNews Media Production. This season is sponsored by Northchase Family Dentistry.
Sources:
"Wilm on Film," by Amy Hotz and Ben Steelman
Various Wilmington StarNews editions, August-November 1983
New Hanover County Library archive records and photos
"Dino: The Life and Films of Dino De Laurentiis," by Tullio Zekich and Alessandra Levantesi

StarNews Media Presents "Cape Fear Unearthed," a podcast digging into the history books of Southeastern North Carolina. The weekly podcast will feature stories drawn from the region's persisting legends, historical oddities and mysterious figures that have helped shape its legacy and culture.

Cape Fear Unearthed

"Firestarter" was the cornerstone of Wilmington's film industry. Now 35 years later, we revisit the production and explore its significance to industry that would emerge from it.

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