'It’s going to look like New York City': Apple TV series to film in downtown London, Ont. this month
One block of Richmond Street is about to transform into New York City.
CTV News London has learned the Apple TV series Improbable Valentine — based off the book The Changeling — will be filming in downtown London later this month.
“We are told they are going to film a movie on the block, and we are excited and looking forward to that,” says James Edwards, owner of AAHC Barbershop and Salon on Richmond Street.
AAHC and a few other businesses between Dundas & King streets on Richmond Street will be closed as they build, film and tear down the set.
“They are going to change the outside and change the signs and I was told it was supposed to look like the 70s in N.Y. scene,” Edwards adds.
According to neighbour Dave McCallum of NYC Stylz, his store will be closed Aug. 24.
“They are setting up rain towers for a big production and need to access the upstairs and downstairs of my shop,” says McCallum.
Actor Lakeith Stanfield poses for a photograph on the red carpet for the premiere of the film "Uncut Gems" during the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto on Monday, September 9, 2019. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Tijana Martin)The fairy tale horror series features LaKeith Stanfield, who starred in Straight Outta Compton, Get Out and Knives Out.
Filming of the series began back in April and is expected to last into September. Some other locations include Toronto, New York and New Jersey.
Photos of production in those other cities have popped up all over social media.
Andrew Dodd of Film London says his office is tracking a few productions right now, and credits the city’s creation of the film office, which is starting to see results.
But, Dodd won’t confirm Improbable Valentine is coming.
“There's lots of moving pieces here and nothing certain until it's certain, so I can't nail any specifics down at this point,” says Dodd. “But we know they're looking in that they're interested and it could be it could be a big deal for London.”
Major television and film productions like Taken, Scary Stories to tell in the Dark, The Boys and See have been filmed in Elgin County, but London hasn’t been host to many big name series.
James Edwards of AAHC Barbershop and Salon will have to close his business for a few days this month as an Apple TV production is taking place in front of his store on Richmond Street in London, Ont. (Brent Lale/CTV News London)“It’s not something that London is used to seeing, so when something does come, there is an excitement about and they reach out to our office because they want to know more,” says Dodd. “It gets people talking because we're not a Toronto or Hamilton where there's productions on the street every single day.”
Edwards is looking forward to the finished product.
“I want to see what the movie actually looks like,” says Edwards.
He adds, “I’d like to see how my shop fits in and stuff and hopefully, you know, maybe they'll have some opportunities to be extra something. Maybe we might get a chance to be in the film.”
The series is expected to air sometime in 2023.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his head more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Case against ex-Mountie charged with helping China can go ahead in Quebec, judge says
A Quebec court judge has ruled that the case against a former RCMP officer charged with helping China conduct foreign interference can go ahead in the province.
Steve Albini, legendary producer for Nirvana, the Pixies and an alternative rock pioneer, dies at 61
Steve Albini, an alternative rock pioneer and legendary producer who shaped the musical landscape through his work with Nirvana, the Pixies, PJ Harvey and more, has died. He was 61.
Ippei Mizuhara, ex-interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani, will plead guilty in betting case
The former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani has agreed to plead guilty to bank and tax fraud in a sports betting case in which prosecutors allege he stole nearly US$17 million from the Japanese baseball player to pay off debts, federal prosecutors said Wednesday.
Watch fighter jet pilots pummel fake enemy ship off coast of Philippines
The United States and Philippines held annual joint-training drills just off the Southeast Asian nation’s western coast on Wednesday. Military forces sunk a 'mock' enemy warship – the BRP Lake Caliraya, which was a decommissioned tanker made in China.