From a stunning backdrop of the Rockies to the vast stretches of the golden prairies, it’s no wonder Alberta has a bustling filming industry.
There is no shortage to the number of blockbuster hits filmed in the province, including The Revenant (2015), which won Leonardo DiCaprio an Oscar. Surprisingly, the bear wasn’t nominated for its performance mauling DiCaprio!
In addition to The Revenant, popular films like Interstellar (Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway), Inception (Leonardo DiCaprio), Cool Runnings, Ghost Busters (Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Harold Ramis), and everyone’s favourite, Brokeback Mountain, were filmed in Alberta.
The list goes on, but let’s take a look at what TV and Movies are being filmed in our amazing province this July!
Heartland: Season 17
For Heartland fans, this one doesn’t come as a surprise. The show has been filmed at locations across the province since 2007, making it one of the longest-running Canadian programs.
According to a synopsis on the Heartland‘s Facebook page, season 17 is “all about embracing the unexpected.
What we can expect is that Amy, Lou, Jack, and Tim will continue to fight for what they believe in while “staying rooted in the land that has been in the Bartlett-Fleming family for generations.”
Season 17 will have ten episodes, pushing the series past the 250-episode milestone! Production for the season is expected to wrap up close to the end of August.
In Cold Light
If you’re into gritty crime thrillers, this one is for you! In Cold Light follows Ava, a former drug dealer recently released from prison. After witnessing the murder of her twin brother, Ava is forced to flee, pursued by the cop that did it.
Ava is played by Maika Monroe, best known for her role in the popular horror film It Follows. In Cold Light is directed by French-Canadian director Maxime Giroux.
“The gritty thriller at the core of the film promises to elevate in the hands of Maxime and this excellent cast. We’re crafting something unique and with a genuine signature,” said producers Yanick Letourneau and Mike MacMillan.
The storyline for In Cold Light will take place in Calgary during the stampede, but filming is also happening in Quebec.
This Too Shall Pass
In June, production for This Too Shall Pass began in Calgary. The film is described as a coming-of-age drama set in 1987 in Syracuse, New York. The storyline follows Simon, a 16-year-old boy rebelling against his strict Mormon parents.
In an attempt to escape, Simon travels to Canada with his friends for a weekend getaway. During the trip, he begins to question his religious and personal beliefs. The film is directed by indie horror veteran Rob Grant, known for Harpoon, Mon Ami, and Fake Blood.
“This cast is dynamite, the team behind the scenes is amazing, and I can’t wait to bring the world a different slant on the coming-of-age genre!” said Grant. This Too Shall Pass stars Maxwell Jenkins, Ray Taylor, and Katie Douglas, who is pictured on the left.
Billy the Kid: Season 2
is back for a second season! Production began in May, filming in Calgary and the surrounding areas. The show launched in 2022 and was inspired by the life of America’s most infamous outlaw, Henry McCarty.
McCarty allegedly killed 21 men before a sheriff shot and killed him. In season two of the show, Billy the Kid will face off against his oldest friend Jesse Evans and the corrupt power of the Santa Fe Ring.
The series was created by Michael Hirst, best known for his Emmy Award-winning series The Tudors and Vikings. The character Billy the Kid is played by Tom Blyth, who played young Coriolanus Snow in The Hunger Games film series.
