‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ filming draws near in Pawhuska

PAWHUSKA, Okla. —  Streets are starting to close, and old buildings are being gutted in Pawhuska as crews prepare to start filming for Martin Scorsese’s upcoming film “Killers of the Flower Moon.”

New facades are going up in downtown Pawhuska to transform the city into a scene from a century ago for a movie that will tell the story of the murders of Osage Nation members in the 1920s. Now, excitement is growing with the changes downtown.

“This is a major, major motion picture. I mean, it’s huge. Megastars. You know, Martin Scorsese. Probably his last film, perhaps. We don’t know,” Danette Daniels, with the Water Bird Gallery, told Tulsa-area television station KTUL.

Filming has been underway in Pawhuska for a few weeks, and the movie could provide a financial impact on the area long after the crew leaves.

“When this movie is out and wins all the major awards in award season, people are going to want to come to see where this movie was filmed,” said Cody Garnett, co-owner of The Buckin’ Flamingo. “They’ll be able to walk right in the same tracks as Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro and all of them and take their pictures in front of all the same storefronts.”

Daniels, who is a member of the Osage Nation and is from Osage County, told KTUL that it’s time more people know about what happened in the 1920s.

“Most of the world does not know our history. And it’s been over 100 years, and it’s time for it to see the light of day,” Daniels said.

The movie studio said filming in downtown Pawhuska will likely start later this month.