TORONTO FILMING UPDATES: JULY 2012

Kristen Kreuk & Jay Ryan in Beauty and the Beast

Filming is kicking into High Gear in Toronto after being in the doldrums earlier this year and the Ontario Media Development Corporation have just announced some updates as to what's to come...

Everyone's curious about upcoming Teen-Fiction Series The Mortal Instruments' move to the Big Screen and in has been confirmed that Production begins August 2012 with Jamie Campbell Bower (The Twilight Saga, Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows: Part 1) and Jemima West (The Borgias) being confirmed additions to the Cast headed by the beautiful Lily Collins (Mirror Mirror, Abducted) as Clary Fray.  Sony Screen Gems releases the Title and loves making Movies in Toronto with their Carrie Remake currently is filming in the City and also their Resident Evil: Retribution pegged for a September 2012 release.

Horror Helmer Eli Roth (Hostel, The Last Exorcism) is set to begin Production on his Netflix Series Hemlock Grove, starring Famke Janssen (X-Men Franchise), Landon Liboiron (Degrassi: The Next Generation) and Dougray Scott (My Week with Marilyn).  One trusty Source spotted Roth out and about last week wearing the shortest of Shorts ... and we're not talking about those of the Film variety!

Although its Pilot was filmed here earlier this year, The CW's Beauty and the Beast was green-lit in May and its first Season begins filming in the City late July. This means Kristin Kreuk (Smallville), Jay Ryan (Legend of the Seeker) and Nicole Anderson (Make It or Break It) will be back shortly.

JAIMIE MURRAY IN TORONTO FOR "DEFIANCE"

Jaime Murray & Lulu in Toronto - May 2012

British Actress Jaime Murray might look familiar to many of you who watched Showtime's Dexter and more recently, The CW Network's Ringer.  Murray currently is in-town filming Syfy Network's forthcoming Series, Defiance which also stars Julie Benz and Grant Bowler, whom we spotted last month.

Delightfully sweet, I spotted Murray taking her adorable five-year-old Lulu out for a walk stopping to pose for a Photo.  Holding a bottle of Red Wine she laughingly tells me, "Not with this bottle am I posing!". The Pilot for Defiance films in Toronto for another week before wrapping and it is being helmed by Scott Stewart, Director of Priest and Legion.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

GRANT BOWLER IN TORONTO FOR "DEFIANCE"

Grant Bowler & Mr. Will-W.

New Zealand-born Actor Grant Bowler is a familiar face to North Americans, having had high-profile stints on HBO's popular Series True Blood as Cooter and ABC's Ugly Betty as Connor Owens.  After playing various Supporting Roles, he is now set for the spotlight as the Leading Man on the SyFy Network's Defiance. The Sci-Fi/Fantasy Series currently is filming in Toronto for the next month under the direction of Scott Stewart, who helmed both 2011's Priest and Legion.

Defiance has Bowler starring as Jeb Nolan, a former Soldier who returns home to find his Hometown in ruins after a group of Aliens arrive on Earth, trying to claim it as their own after their Solar System is destroyed.  The Series also stars Julie Benz (Dexter, Desperate Housewives) and Tony Curran (The Adventures of Tintin, The Pillars of the Earth).

Bowler was incredibly kind to stop for a quick Photo and a chat with myself and a couple big Fans of Ugly Betty while off to a Sunday night Movie, although he and his Friend still had yet to decide what they were to see!

Fans of GCB also have something to be excited about as he appears later this season as Mason Massey in a brief Arc.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

SCOTT STEWART BEGINS WORK ON NEW SYFY SERIES "DEFIANCE"

Scott Stewart & Mr. Will-W.

The Syfy Network is set to begin production on a new Series here in Toronto called Defiance, from the Director of well-known releases Priest and Legion, Scott Stewart. Stewart flew-in to Toronto from Los Angeles tonight to begin pre-production on the Series, which is expected to film around April.

Starring in the Series is Aussie Grant Bowler (Lost, Ugly Betty) as a former Marine and Law Keeper who loses his Wife and Child at war, taking place in a future Earth where Aliens and Humans reside together.

Stewart was surprised to be recognized and happy to stop for a quick minute, lugging a cart filled with necessities to last him a while, including his Guitar.

A Video Game based on the Series also will be timed in conjunction with the premiere of Defiance. Forward thinking!

Bowler is on Twitter here.  Stewart is on Twitter here.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)