DECATUR - A long-awaited Hollywood feature film based in Decatur will be a reality this year.

"The Informant," a film based on Kurt Eichenwald's 2000 book about Archer Daniels Midland Co.'s 1990s-era price-fixing scandal, is to begin filming in Decatur in April and May.

In 1992, the FBI had ADM executive Mark Whitacre wear a wire, and the federal agency recorded hundreds of hours of ADM executives conspiring to replace sugar with high fructose syrup in the world's food products. ADM ultimately was fined $100 million for the conspiracy.

Spooky Stevens, public relations assistant to production manager Michael Polaire, confirmed the filming plans Thursday afternoon.

Stevens said all of the filming will be done in Decatur, dismissing rumors that the production planned extensive work in Springfield.

"Springfield was never in the running," she said. "I'm not sure where that came from. There's apparently a lot of misinformation about this film out there. We might spend one day in Springfield, but it will be filmed in Decatur."

Stephens said no announcement would be made about filming locations.

"We would never give them out," she said. "People get excited about a movie being filmed, and they want to come and watch. We understand that, but we have work to do."

Stevens said a call for extras would be made, but is some time off.

"We're so far away from anything like that," she said.

In other news related to "The Informant," a classified ad in Sunday's Herald & Review requested rental of "1980-1992 vehicles," including "1990-1992 Porsche, Range Rover, BMW, Mercedes, LTD-Crown Vic." The ad also requested "tractor trailers, tankers and a combine," and said the production would be filmed in Decatur "from late April through May 2008."

The e-mail listed in the ad was informantmoviecars@yahoo.com

A post on the Springfield Film Commission's Web site, www.springfieldfilmcommission.com, said the film is shooting May 1 to 28. The post said crew members, "especially grips, electricians, sound men, production assistants, etc.," are being sought and listed a fax number for production manager Polaire. The post has since been removed.

The film will feature Matt Damon, the star of the "Bourne" series and one of the stars of the "Ocean's 11" series, in the role of ADM executive-turned-informant Whitacre.

Damon's name has been attached to the film since 2002, when reports of it being his "next" film first began circulating.

The film is being directed by Steven Soderbergh, director of the "Ocean's 11" series and winner of a best director Oscar in 2001 for "Traffic." Soderbergh and Damon have delayed "The Informant" several times, for the "Ocean's 11" sequels and Damon's role in "The Good Shepherd."

Polaire has a number of productions on his resum©, including two with Soderbergh.

Tim Cain can be reached at timcain@herald-review.com or 421-6908.