The bright lights are shining on a familiar London landmark this week
It's a bridge that sits on the border of Ironwood Township, Penn., but Londoners know it better as Blackfriars Bridge.
Blackfriars is getting a second chance at a cameo in the upcoming Amazon Prime video series ‘Motorheads.’
"They were going to film here, last August was when they first reached out,” said Andrew Dodd.
Dodd is the manager of Film London, an arm of the London Economic Development Corporation.
He continued, “A couple of weeks before shooting, the strikes happened in Hollywood. SAG-AFTRA went on strike and the whole thing had to shut down."
Dodd wasn't sure London would get a second chance, but then the call came, "Start of this year, 2024, they reach out again and said we have every intention of coming back."
Sign on London's Blackfriars Bridge, seen on April 17, 2024, welcomes people to Ironwood Township, Penn. (Gerry Dewan/CTV News London)
The series features Ryan Phillippe, Nathalie Kelley, and Michael Cimino.
It's set in a once-thriving Rust Belt town where outsiders form unlikely friendships over a love of automobiles.
Dodd said there are online databases that industry leaders use to select locations.
“There are a few different libraries that people in the industry can access,” Dodd told CTV News. “There’s Ontario Creates, which is a provincial locations library database. We also have a London-specific database on London.ca. Then we get word-of-mouth out to as many location managers and scouts as we can about what great resources and locations we have here in London."
Sherrie Cameron lives on Blackfriars Street, about a block away from the bridge. She said members of the production team reached out to those in the neighbourhood prior to the production getting underway, "He said, 'Are you ready for the circus?"
Equipment at Blackfriars Bridge in London, Ont., seen on April 17, 2024, to be used for shooting an Amazon Prime TV show. (Gerry Dewan/CTV News London)
Cameron regularly uses Blackfriars Bridge to go into the downtown. She said she had no issue with losing access for a few days, and was looking forward to seeing production crews in action, "I can't wait for it. Yeah, I'll be out here recording it for sure."
Dodd said none of the stars were expected to be on site, with the scene primarily using stunt team members.
Still, streets in the neighbourhood were lined with equipment trucks, preparing for shooting which would take place Thursday evening.
Dodd said film, TV, and streaming service productions bring a significant benefit to the community, “They stay in our hotels. They'll hire our local crews. They'll pay residents of friendly communities like Blackfriars to park in their driveway or maybe to use part of their property. They'll eat at our restaurants. So it's a good news story for London."
A release date for Motorheads has not been set.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump fined US$1,000 for gag order violation in hush money case as judge warns of possible jail time
The judge presiding over Donald Trump's hush money trial has fined him US$1,000 for violating his gag order and sternly warned the former president that additional violation could result in jail time.
The story of how a B.C. man found his birth mother
After his adopted parents died, Dave Rogers set out to learn more about his birth mother. DNA results and a little help from friendly strangers would put him on a path to a small town in England.
When grief and AI collide: These people are communicating with the dead
AI tools can offer recommendations, answer questions and 'talk' with users. But some users are using them to recreate the likeness of the dead.
Spike in 'violent rhetoric' since Oct. 7 attack from 'extremist actors,' CSIS warns
The Israel-Hamas war has led to a spike in 'violent rhetoric' from 'extremist actors' that could prompt some in Canada to turn to violence, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service warns.
Italy's white-collar mafia is making a business killing
Italy's mafia rarely dirties its hands with blood these days. Extortion rackets have gone out of fashion and murders are largely frowned upon by the godfathers.
WestJet, mechanics union agree to tentative deal to avoid strike
A potential strike between WestJet and its mechanics union appears to have been avoided.
Russia announces nuclear weapon drills after angry exchange with senior Western officials
Russia plans to hold drills simulating the use of battlefield nuclear weapons, the Defense Ministry announced Monday, days after the Kremlin reacted angrily to comments by senior Western officials about the war in Ukraine and Moscow warned that tensions with the West are deepening.
Summer forecast: What to expect as El Nino weakens
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Actor Bernard Hill, of 'Titanic' and 'Lord of the Rings,' has died at 79
Actor Bernard Hill, who delivered a rousing cry before leading his people into battle in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' and went down with the ship as the captain in 'Titanic,' has died.