Filming in Vancouver: When Calls the Heart and The Detour wrap, Undying to come
In this week’s roundup of what’s going on in the local screen scene, two TV series call it a wrap—bringing them that much closer to hitting a home screen near you with their latest episodes.
One is a historical romance-drama that is carrying on in the aftermath of a surprising twist of events to one of its main characters.
The other is a comedy series about a family on the lam that has filmed in a different location for each season—with Vancouver being its latest.
Meanwhile, a fantasy-romance feature is coming to film in the province.
So after the jump, here’s a look at some of the latest developments in Hollywood North.
This week, When Calls the Heart wraps up production on Season 6 on All Hallow’s Eve (October 31). The American-Canadian TV series began shooting its latest season back on July 9.
This season follows in the wake of the Season 5 finale shocker, in which RCMP officer Jack Thornton (Daniel Lissing) died not long after he married Elizabeth (Erin Krakow).
However, Hearties, there’s heartening news, as there’s hope for the future: Elizabeth is pregnant with Daniel’s baby. Ooers!
And to add to the intrigue, there are some handsome new faces in the mix.
Newcomers who joined the cast for Season 6 include Kevin McGarry (Heartland), as a new RCMP officer, and Chris McNally (Supernatural), as a gambler and saloon owner.
Meanwhile, Rob Estes (from the original Melrose Place) will also guest star as a mysterious artist who is somehow connected to the past of Abigail Stanton (Lori Loughlin).
They’ll join cast members such as Pascale Hutton, Jack Wagner, and Paul Greene.
There’s a bit of a wait as Season 6 premieres in early 2019.
But before that, there’ll be something to tide fans over with: the When the Heart Calls Christmas special, which will bridge Seasons 5 and 6.
The two-hour special, set to air on Christmas Day (December 25), will include cast members Lori Loughlin, Erin Krakow, Jack Wagner, Pascale Hutton, Kavan Smith, and Paul Greene as the residents of Hope Valley join together to try to make Christmas a memorable one for a group of orphans who become stranded in town.
While we wait for that one, here’s another TV series that’s calling it a wrap.
Each season of The Detour has been shot in a different location.
Season 4 started shooting in Vancouver on September 10 and will wrap up on Friday (November 2).
This comedy series follows the dysfunctional Parker family, who originally set off in Season 1 (shot in Georgia) on a family road trip from their home in Syracuse, New York, to Florida but ran into numerous mishaps—and it became clear they were on the run. After relocating to New York City in Season 2, they went on to move to Alaska in Season 3.
With Season 4 filmed in Vancouver, where will the family be located? A U.S. city in in the Pacific Northwest such as Seattle or Portland? Or could Vancouver actually play itself? We’ll have to wait and see.
The family is played by Jason Jones, Natalie Zea, Ashley Gerasimovich, and Liam Carroll.
Season 4 will air in 2019.
And since each season has been filmed in a different location, we’ll probably have to say farewell to the series and will have to wait to see where its next shooting location is.
On the big-screen side of things, in the next few weeks, filming for the feature film Undying will take place in B.C., with production based in Kelowna, from November 13 to December 8.
In this fantasy-romance drama, directed by Scott Speer (Step Up: Revolution), a teenager finds himself trapped in purgatory as he searches for a way to contact his true love.
So far, the only cast member announced is Liana Liberato (The Best of Me) so we’ll have to wait to see who else will be gracing the province with their presence.
And on that note, that’s it for this week.
But check back in with us again for further news about what else is coming and going from the local screen industries as we head further into the autumn season.