 In March 2006, Slade revealed that screenwriter Brian Nelson, who wrote the screenplay for Slade's previous film "Hard Candy", was writing a new draft of the "30 Days of Night" script, replacing Beattie's draft.The director said that filming would begin in summer 2006 in Alaska and New Zealand.In June 2006, it was announced that Josh Hartnett was cast as the husband of the married couple that serves as the town's sheriff team.