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.

KEISHA CASTLE-HUGHES IN TORONTO FOR "REWIND"

Keisha Castle-Hughes & Mr. Will-W.

She holds the distinction of being the youngest Actress ever to have garnered an Oscar nomination and if she looks familiar, that's because many of you know her for her work in 2004's acclaimed Whale Rider.  Then at age 11, New Zealand-born Keisha Castle-Hughes rose to international stardom with her outstanding performance in that Niki Caro Film.  Since then, she has appeared in The Nativity Story and Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith, juggling being an Actress and a Mother to Felicity-Amore.

The Actress currently is in Toronto working on a Pilot for SyFy Network Series Rewind, which has her starring as Priya, a Historian who travels back in time to change events in order to prevent a Terrorist Attack from happening. Think Quantum Leap, but more political.

The lovely Castle-Hughes is enjoying a break from filming right now and tells me she is having a wonderful time in Toronto, having enjoyed a bit of shopping, a Blue Jays Game yesterday and also a Marlies Game tonight with a close Friend.  She was even decked-out in a cute Marlies Toque, in full-on Torontonian mode!  To be honest, before today I didn't even know whether the Marlies were a Hockey Team or a Baseball Team and I like to consider myself a proud Torontonian! Go, Keisha!

Rewind is slated to wrap early May, and also stars The Help's Shane McRae.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)