Astoria and its surrounding areas are getting a little more attention these days.

While the last movie shot here has yet to be released, filming of another motion picture, “Into the Wild,” is well under way.

Sean Penn, of movies such as “Dead Man Walking,” “The Thin Red Line,” “I Am Sam” and “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” is directing the film, which he adapted from a best-selling novel by Jon Krakauer.

And with a cast list that also carries names like Vince Vaughn (“The Break-Up,” “Wedding Crashers,” “Mr. and Mrs. Smith”), Catherine Keener (“Capote,” “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” “Being John Malkovich”), Emile Hirsch, Marcia Gay Harden and William Hurt, rumors have been flying.

“Into the Wild” tells the story of a top Emory University graduate who abandons his privileged life and hitchhikes to Alaska, where his soul-searching journey into nature ends in death.

His travels take him through Oregon – one reason for the film to partly be shot here, said Frank Hildebrand, head of production.

“We picked Astoria because of the scenic aspects,” Hildebrand said.

So have many other films. “Cthulhu,” shot here last year, is in its post-production phase, while movies already released include “The Ring 2,” “Kindergarten Cop,” “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III,” “Short Circuit,” “The Goonies” and “Free Willy.”

Mike Ramsdell, a retired city employee and now the local liaison for film locations, said Astoria provides “that rustic look,” although “Into the Wild” also took its crew to South Dakota.

Williamsport Road was used for one scene, in which a Humboldt County, Calif., sheriff stops the story’s star for creating hazards by hitchhiking, Ramsdell said. It was the only scene he was involved in shooting, but he said additional filming happened on Highway 4.

On Monday, the old-fashioned Olney General Store received a makeover, transforming it to the “Orick General Store.”

Elk antlers were removed from the walls and replaced with nautical decor: buoys, fishing nets and portholes, said Helena Jordan, 23, a store employee watching the scenes unfold with her mother, Tammi, and her 1-year-old daughter, Onyx. She and other local residents sat in lawn chairs to observe the action.

“The really neat part is they’re using our store owner in it,” said Jordan, who described Sean Penn as “a very nice man.”

Matt Ness, whose nearby house and barn were used in a scene earlier in the day, said he was happy to be watching.

“I love it,” he said. “I took the day off for it.”

Nearly 100 locals turned out at a casting call about a week ago. Eight extras were cast in Tuesday’s scenes, said Brinton Bryan, key set production assistant.

Filming should continue through the upcoming weekend, with 100 cast and crew members in town to work on it. They’ve visited most of the local bars and attended a recent Columbian Theater concert, one production assistant said. Penn has been sighted at Andrew & Steve’s Chartroom, Baked Alaska, The Schooner Twelfth Street Bistro, Astoria’s Pig ‘N Pancake and in Cannon Beach.

But rumors have spread that other stars – not involved with the movie – are visiting, too.

“Into the Wild” is slated for release in late 2007.