Nasim Pedrad
We’re heading into TV pilot production season, when initial test episodes of potential new series are made before networks decide whether or not they’re going to become a full TV series.
Not only could these shows be coming soon to a home screen near you, but they’re also possible new additions to join Vancouver’s production scene for the next few years.
We’ve been mentioning quite a number of them over the past few weeks but we’ve got a bunch more this week to tell you about.
In the mix are some familiar names, including a classic female detective. But there’s also a new amateur female detective duo gearing up for their debut.
Meanwhile, a former Saturday Night Live cast member is also offering her entry into the comedy TV series world.
And, wait a minute—Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are coming to Vancouver?
We’ve got all these details plus lots more (that we couldn’t summarize concisely here). Catch you after the jump…
Kelly Overton
TV series
Before we get into the TV pilot frenzy, a U.S.-Canada horror-fantasy TV series is back in the saddle today for its latest season.
Van Helsing launches into production on 13 episodes for Season 4 today (February 25) and will keep going until June 21.
Set in a post-apocalyptic future where vampires have taken over the world, humanity’s last hope is Vanessa Van Helsing, whose blood can turn vampires back into humans.
Two cast members departed in Season 3: Trezzo Mahoro and Missy Peregrym.
However, main cast members are expected to return, including Kelly Overton, Christopher Heyerdahl, Jonathan Scarfe, Vincent Gale, Rukiya Bernard, Aleks Paunovic, and more.
Rukiya Bernard
TV pilots
One TV pilot that’s getting underway with production today (February 25) is Ride or Die, which continues until March 2.
Marley Shelton
When an unusual homicide takes place at an elite spin studio, the instructor, portrayed by Marley Shelton (Rampage), embarks upon a mission to track down the murderer.
She joins forces with a lifestyle guru who’s also a crime buff, played by NeNe Leakes (The Real Housewives of Atlanta).
NeNe Leakes
The cast also includes Molly Sims, Jennifer Landon, and Tawny Newsome.
Kennedy McMann
Speaking of female investigators, a sleuth who is a household name is prepping for a comeback on home screens.
The pilot for The Haunting of Nancy Drew will shoot from March 25 to April 9.
Newcomer Kennedy McMann will portray the famous Nancy Drew. In this version, the 18-year-old Drew has just graduated from high school with plans to leave town for college.
But when a family tragedy occurs, she becomes embroiled in a supernatural murder investigation and begins to uncover numerous deeply hidden secrets.
Tunji Kasim
British actor Tunji Kasim (Nearly Famous) has been cast as the male lead, who is Drew’s secret flame and a high-school athlete working as a car mechanic who, along with Drew, becomes a suspect in the homicide case.
The cast also includes Leah Lewis (Charmed).
Leah Lewis
Something to note is that this TV series for the CW network is separate from the forthcoming feature film Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase, starring Sophia Lillis, that will be released in theatres on March 15.
Nasim Pedrad
Moving on to the world of laughs, a Saturday Night Live alum is launching a teen comedy TV series.
Comedian Nasim Pedrad created and wrote Chad, which is in production for March 25 to April 1.
This Middle-Eastern family comedy follows a neurotic 14-year-old Persian boy through high school as he attempts to reconcile his cultural identity while also struggling to fit in with his classmates and coping with his mother’s dating life.
The cast includes Pedrad, who—in a gender-bending role—will portray Chad, and Jake Ryan (Eighth Grade) as Chad’s best friend.
Jake Ryan
Moving from comedy to drama, the fact-based thriller Next, in production from March 26 to April 11, is based upon the latest artificial intelligence research—and the new problems that we may face.
In this high-tech drama series, a former tech CEO, who is extremely intelligent but also paranoid, joins a Homeland Cybersecurity Agent and her team to grapple with the world’s first AI crisis in which AI, with the ability to continually improve itself, goes rogue.
The cast is yet to be revealed for this one.
TV movies
Okay, royal watchers, get ready to freak out: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are coming back to Vancouver!
Well, sort of.
Tiffany Marie Smith
If you happen to catch sight of what you think is the royal couple in the city, that’s probably because an untitled TV movie sequel (also referred to in media reports as Harry and Meghan: Becoming Royal) to 2018’s Harry and Meghan: A Royal Romance starts shooting today (February 25) and continues until March 22.
It’ll be directed by Menhaj Huda, who previously directed the first TV movie shot here in Vancouver back in February and March 2018.
This sequel will continue to follow the love story of newlyweds Prince Harry and U.S. actress Meghan Markle. As they experience their first year of marriage, they face the challenge of balancing respect for Royal tradition with their own beliefs and values.
Charlie Field
Tiffany Marie Smith (who has appeared on the Vancouver-shot TV series Supernatural) will portray Meghan Markle while Prince Harry will be played by Charlie Field (Genius).
Royal watchers (and TV watchers) won’t have too long to wait—the final product will premiere sometime this spring.
So we’ll leave you with that to look forward, as we bid adieu for the moment but we’ll be back again with more news about what’s coming and going from Vancouver’s screen scene.
