An action hero with a renowned fear of snakes is coming to southern New Mexico. 

The fourth installment of the ""Indiana Jones"" series will film some scenes in Deming. The working title is: ""Indiana Jones and the City of the Gods.""

An area outside Deming will be transformed through Hollywood magic into Morocco.

Folks who work in the technical side of the film business have been in Deming for weeks. A building at the former air strip in Deming has been painted blue, with a USAF insignia and the words ""Home Of The Fighter Pilot"" painted on an outside wall. In addition, WWII Air Force vehicles are parked nearby.

Steven Spielberg will direct, while George Lucas is executive producer. 

New Mexico reportedly is the first filming site, but no filming dates have been announced. It is not known if star Harrison Ford will be in Deming for any of the scenes shot on location there.

Lucasfilm Ltd. announced in January that it would be filming a fourth installment of the action series.

A news release issued Thursday by Lucasfilm Ltd., announced that Shia LeBeouf will join Ford in the production, as will Cate Blanchett, Ray Winstone and John Hurt.

LeBeouf played the lead role in the box office hit ""Disturbia."" Blanchett should be familiar with New Mexico, having worked in Director Ron Howard's 2003 film, ""The Missing,"" which was shot near Alamogordo. But Sir Sean Connery, who played Ford's dad in ""Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,"" has retired from acting and won't reprise that role.

""I get asked the question so often, I thought it best to make an announcement,"" Connery said in a statement released Thursday by Lucasfilm. ""I thought long and hard about it and if anything could have pulled me out of retirement it would have been an Indiana Jones film.

""I love working with Steven (Spielberg) and George (Lucas), and it goes without saying that it is an honor to have Harrison as my son. But in the end, retirement is just too damned much fun. I, do however, have one bit of advice for Junior: Demand that the critters be digital, the cliffs be low, and for goodness sake keep that whip by your side at all times in case you need to escape from the stunt coordinator!

""This is a remarkable cast, and I can only say, 'Break a leg, everyone.' I'll see you on May 22, 2008, at the theater!""

Blanchett is expected to play a villain in this production.

There's an open casting call in New Haven, Conn., this weekend. Other production will be in Los Angeles. No word on whether extras will be sought in Deming or Luna County.

The working title will follow ""Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark;"" ""Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom"" and ""Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.""

Deming has been the location for a pair of independent films in recent years. ""Gas, Food and Lodging"" filmed in Deming in 1991 and ""Sonny Boy"" filmed near Columbus in 1987.

/www.lcsun-news.com/fastsearchresults/ci_6088876"">Las Cruces Sun"