There’s been an uptick of filming notices, street detours and neon arrows with words like “circus” taped to street lamps, a sure sign of spring in B.C. To scope out where your favourite TV shows, mini-series and films may be shooting (or if you're wondering where to spot celebrities at work), read on to find out where the action is happening.
Early Edition
This gender-swapped reboot of the late-1990s show of the same name is about a reporter (Kyle Chandler in the original, Alice Eve in the reboot) who receives "tomorrow's news" delivered to them a day early, setting them on a mission to change the headlines.
Starring: Alice Eve.
Spotted filming: Early Edition has taken over spots like Fisherman’s Wharf on Granville Island.
Wrap date: April 7
A Million Little Things
This ensemble story is The Big Chill-meets-This Is Us and centres around a group of 40-something adults who are shaken when their mutual friend commits suicide.
Starring: A large cast with familiar faces including Grace Park, David Giuntoli, Romany Malco; as well as guest stars like Ron Livingston and Drea de Matteo.
Spotted filming: Previous locations include Gastown (particularly Alexander Street), the Pacific Coliseum (which stands in for the Boston Garden), Jericho Beach and Templeton High School.
Wrap date: April 13
Charmed
Another reboot, this one is of the CW show of the same name and follows three sisters with magical powers (premonition and telepathy). Fans were shocked by the death of a major on-screen character, which is certain to play a large part in season four.
Starring: Melonie Diaz, Sarah Jeffrey and Rupert Evans.
Spotted filming: Gastown, Whites Ironwoods Studio in Vancouver and J.E. Phillips House in New Westminster (for exterior shots).
Wrap date: April 13
Firefly Lane
A surprise hit for Netflix (it racked up 1.3 billion minutes of viewing time in the first week after its premiere), this series follows two best friends through their teen years to adulthood.
Starring: Katherine Heigl and Canada's Sarah Chalke.
Spotted filming: Some street filming locations include The Vancouver Club and Kennedy’s Pub in North Delta.
Wrap date: April 20
The Good Doctor
Developed and produced for a North American audience by actor Daniel Dae Kim, The Good Doctor is an adaption of a South Korean drama of the same name and stars Freddie Highmore as an autistic savant surgical resident. Vancouver stands in for San Jose, California.
Starring: Freddie Highmore, Richard Schiff and Christina Chang.
Spotted filming: Surrey City Hall, Riverview Hospital in Coquitlam, West Coast Heritage Park in Squamish, the old Canada Post building in downtown Vancouver and the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver.
Wrap date: April 22
Prom Pact
Mixing the American high school milestone of prom and a standard rom-com storyline (the jock and the A+ student must work together to achieve their goals), this Disney+ teen-centred flick is produced by Modern Family's Julie Bowen.
Starring: Milo Manheim, Blake Draper, Margaret Cho and Wendy McLendon-Covey.
Spotted filming: Terry Fox Secondary in Port Coquitlam (read this interview for a behind-the-scenes peek with teen extras).
Wrap date: April 22
The Flash
After eight seasons on the CW, The Flash is pretty well-known by now: he fights crime and can run really fast.
Starring: Grant Gustin, Candice Patton, Tom Cavanagh and Jordan Fisher.
Spotted filming: As it’s been filming in Vancouver for years, it’s not unusual to stumble across a set near BC Place, Vancouver Film Studio, Vancouver City Hall, Britannia Beach, Boundary Bay Regional Airport and alleys around Granville Street in downtown Vancouver.
Wrap date: April 25
Blockbuster
Newly developed by Netflix, this is all about the last brick-and-mortar Blockbuster location in Bend, Oregon.
Starring: Randall Park and Melissa Fumero.
Spotted filming: Kitsilano.
Wrap date: May 2
Superman & Lois
This superheroes-go-to-the-suburbs series is about Superman and Lois Lane as parents of two boys in Smallville, who have to contend with raising children and fighting off villains.
Starring: Elizabeth Tulloch, Tyler Hoechlin and guest star Jenna Dewan.
Spotted filming: Richmond, Surrey and Delta, Parq Hotel, and around downtown Vancouver.
Wrap date: May 4
Shōgun
Yet another remake, this one airs on FX network and is based on the novel by James Clavell about an Englishman who shipwrecks in Japan and becomes entangled with a mysterious and feared daimyo and the skilled daughter of a samurai.
Starring: Hiroyuki Sanada, Anna Sawai and Cosmo Jarvis.
Spotted filming: Ucluelet, as well as a massive takeover of Port Moody's waterfront.
Wrap date: May 31
The Fall of the House of Usher
Adapted from the works of Edgar Allen Poe, plot deals are scarce for this mini-series but it is slotted in the horror genre.
Starring: Mark Hamill, Carlo Gugino, Zach Gilford and Rahul Kohli.
Spotted filming: Mountain View Cemetery. In February, it also set up quite the (fake) bloody scene on West Hastings.
Wrap date: June 1
Riverdale
No one could have predicted that a dark teen version of Archie comics would be such a hit for CW, but streaming has helped maintain the show's popularity even as the storylines have become increasingly outrageous.
Starring: Cole Sprouse, Lili Reinhart, Camila Mendes and KJ Apa.
Spotted filming: After six seasons, there are loads of familiar locations including Rocko’s Diner in Mission, Lord Byng Secondary School, John Oliver Secondary School, The Permanent (downtown Vancouver), Alouette Lake and the Twilight Drive-in Theatre in Langley, to name a few.
Wrap date: June 1
The Night Agent
This spy thriller has an intriguing premise: an FBI agent works nights in the basement of the White House and is responsible for keeping tabs on a phone that never rings. Until one night it does.
Starring: Gabriel Bosso and Luciane Buchanan.
Spotted Filming: Langley’s hilltop diner (per @YVRshooots) and it recently took over the Georgia Viaduct for a car chase.
Wrap date: June 8
Chesapeake Shores
This family-centric drama is about a divorced, hard-working mom who returns to her hometown and discovers a slower pace of life and romantic interest.
Starring: Jesse Metcalfe, Meghan Ory, Robert Buckley and Treat Williams.
Spotted filming: Nanaimo, Qualicum Beach, Bailey’s in the Village Café and many more (Tourism Victoria has compiled a complete list for those who want to visit some spots in person).
Wrap date: June 28
Snowpiercer
The year is 2026, the world is frozen and the human survivors are on a train. While it seems like a typical dystopian drama, the subtext is all about socio-economic disparity and survival.
Starring: Jennifer Connelly, Daveed Diggs, Sean Bean and Clark Gregg.
Spotted filming: Martini Film Studio (which Netflix recently secured a five-year lease on the space).
Wrap date: Aug. 5
Cruel Summer
A surprise hit for Freeform, this unsettling teen thriller is about two teens in the 1990s and what happens when one girl goes missing and another girl takes her place in social standing. It's a twisty, spooky thriller.
Starring: Olivia Holt and Chiara Aurelia.
Spotted filming: The first season was filmed in Dallas, Texas while the second season is being filmed in and around Richmond.
Wrap date: Aug. 19
Made-for-TV Christmas movies
The Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley (like Steveston, Sinclair Center, Capilano Suspension Bridge, Fort Langley, Squamish) are a familiar backdrop for dozens of made-for-TV holiday movies that are formulaic and always have a warm-and-fuzzy happy ending.
