‘Marley & Me’ films today at Inquirer

Owen Wilson waits, reading a newspaper, while scores of extras sit and stand, also waiting for their cues.

The newsroom at The Inquirer, at Broad and Callowhill Streets, is filled with cast and crew today for Marley & Me, slated for release on Christmas Day.

Wilson stars as former Inquirer columnist John Grogan in the heart-tugging tale, which is based on Grogan's mega-selling memoir about his uncontrollable but lovable Labrador retriever.

Life and Love With the World's Worst Dog was the book's simple subtitle.

When cameras roll, a lot of the extras stroll around, making the newsroom look less library-like - and with a younger staff - than usual.

Then it's "cut" and back to waiting.

Before dawn, 10 trailers were lined up along Callowhill, as the crew prepared to do at least four scenes inside the cavernous newsroom today. A couple were to capture the columnist at work, a couple others in a meeting with an editor played by Clarke Peters, who's best known for portraying Detective Lester Freamon on HBO's The Wire.

Jennifer Aniston, who stars as Grogan's wife, isn't on hand today, but is likely to join the shooting when it moves out to the West Chester area.

Yesterday evening, Wilson filmed a handful of takes of simply crossing Broad Street and walking through the brass front doors.

Earlier yesterday, Wilson spent hours at Broad and Walnut Streets man-hugging Eric Dane (Mark "McSteamy" Sloan on Grey's Anatomy), who plays Grogan's best friend.

David Frankel (The Devil Wears Prada) is directing the film.