Filming in Vancouver: Van Helsing, Casey Affleck, Riverdale, and Timeless

This week, we’ve got vampire hunters, time travellers, pandemic survivors, and cheery comicbook characters gone gritty.

It’s all what’s shooting in Hollywood North this week. Intrigued? Well, read on and find out who you might run into while you’re out and about on the streets of this often surprising and unpredictable West Coast metropolis.

Although Light of My Life was previously scheduled to start on January 25 and continue shooting until March 10, it has since been rescheduled to start this Wednesday (February 8) and continue until March 30

The survival drama feature is written by, directed by, and stars Casey Affleck, who has been receiving accolades for his performance in the dramatic feature Manchester by the Sea (including an Oscar nomination).

While details about the storyline was previously limited, new details have surfaced.

Affleck stars as a father who tries to protect his young daughter (Anna Pniowsky) by living on the fringes of society after a deadly pandemic has destroyed much of the world.

Part of the film will be shot in Osoyoos, B.C., in British Columbia’s Okanagan region.

On the same day (February 8), Van Helsingkicks into production on Season 2. The TV series is scheduled to continue shooting until June 16.

The action-fantasy series, created by filmmaker Neil LaBute (In the Company of Men), follows the adventures of Vanessa Helsing (Kelly Overton).

In the wake of a volcanic eruption that has plunged the world into perpetual twilight, vampires have taken over society. Helsing is humanity’s last hope, as her unusual blood composition turns vampires back into humans.

The cast includes Jonathan Scarfe, Vincent Gale, Christopher Heyerdahl, David Cubitt, Trezzo Mahoro, Laura Mennell, and Terry Chen.

Meanwhile, two other TV series are wrapping up this week.

Timeless ends production on its first season on Tuesday (February 7).

The sci-fi drama series, which began shooting on July 22, follows a trio of experts—including a history professor (Abigail Spencer), a scientist (Malcolm Barrett), a solider (Matt Lanter)—as they try to stop a criminal (Goran Višnjić) from destroying America by using a stolen time travel machine to alter U.S. history.

In Season 1, the team travelled to the eras of Jesse James, the Apollo 11 mission, the Watergate scandal, Abraham Lincoln, and the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair.

Three more episodes are yet to air, including one tonight.

Elsewhere in the city, another series finishing up shooting its inaugural season is Riverdale.

The darkly dramatic take on Archie Comics wraps up on Thursday (February 9), having started on September 7.

Unlike the cheerful comicbook, this teen drama of this version is set against some grim and unsettling circumstances: the death of quarterback Jason Blossom.

Archie (K.J. Apa) is struggling to reconcile his attraction to both his best friend Betty (Lili Reinhart) and the new rich girl Veronica (Camila Mendes).

The cast includes Ashleigh Murray as Josie McCoy of the band Josie and the Pussycats; Casey Cott as the openly gay Kevin Keller; and Cole Sprouse as Jughead Jones, who narrates the series.

Longtime TV viewers and screen trivia buffs will recognize some familiar names from the 1980s and ’90s, including Luke Perry (Beverly Hills, 90210) as Archie’s father; Robin Givens (Head of the Class), as Riverdale’s mayor and mother of Josie, and Molly Ringwald (Pretty in Pink), as Archie’s mother.

Well, that’s all for this week. But there are more film and TV projects about to start or wrap up so check back in with us next week for more to explore of what’s shooting in Vancouver.