'Batman' clues point to the Broad

EAST LANSING – The notoriously stealthy Caped Crusader has thus far left no concrete evidence as to where he'll drop when parts of "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" are filmed in the Lansing area in a few weeks.

But Gotham City's Dark Knight — or at least his production crew — has left clues that point to the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum on Michigan State University's campus.

In mid-September, Warner Bros. called for extras from the Lansing area to be used in overnight filming in the Lansing area on Oct. 16 and 17 for the Zack Snyder flick starring Ben Affleck as Batman and Henry Cavill as Superman. It is set for a 2016 release.

Since that call-out, no one has confirmed exactly where filming will take place and details have been scarce. But circumstantial evidence pointing to the Broad has trickled in.

The most recent sign of potential activity came Tuesday, in the form of a curious piece of wood construction outside the Broad and social media chatter about a construction worker who says he is part of the crew setting up for Batman filming.

And, there's more:

• Snyder scouted the Broad in January, and was photographed then with MSU basketball coach Tom Izzo and athletic director Mark Hollis.

• The museum announced on its website that it will be closed Oct. 13-20 — the week that includes local filming — for "a private rental." When asked about the rental earlier this month, MSU spokesman Kent Cassella referred questions to LeeAnne Muldoon, the movie's unit publicist. Her answer was short and sweet — "Batman v Superman" is a closed set and there would be no information.

• Some construction is happening now at the Broad, and a recent photo on Facebook shows a man at the Broad wearing a T-shirt from the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States Local 44, based in North Hollywood, California.

And the movie is filming in Michigan. The Detroit Free Press reported in late August that the film crew was at Hygrade Deli on Michigan Avenue in Detroit. Last year, the Film Office announced the superhero project would receive $35 million in incentives to film primarily in metro Detroit.

Asked about the construction crews, Cassella on Tuesday said only that "activity at the Broad is for a private function."