Rising out of the Old Trail subdivision in Crozet, a wooden ark silhouetted against the Blue Ridge Mountains nears completion on the set of Evan Almighty. Some locals have spotted elephants, giraffes, and buffalo on the set that hugs the main drag in the new upscale subdivision.

"Literally, someone driving home could see elephants grazing in the field," says production spokesperson Carol McConnaughey.

The sequel to Bruce Almighty, directed by UVA alum Tom Shadyac, stars Steve Carell in the title role and Morgan Freeman as God.

The ark is probably 75 percent done, McConnaughey estimates, but the movie, which began filming in March, is running behind schedule. The culprit is wet weather, not the May 13 ankle sprain that Carell suffered during filming in Richmond.

McConnaughey says the animals stay on private farms in the area. Not in pairs inside the ark?

"We can't house them all together," McConnaughey explains, "because some are predators."

Noah, eat your heart out. The Evan Almighty ark prepares to set sail out of Crozet.
PHOTO BY BILLY HUNT #