Filming in Vancouver: Vince Vaughn, Mel Gibson, Ryan Reynolds, Dwayne Johnson, Parker Posey, and more

A number of Hollywood stars have gathered on Vancouver Island to shoot a new feature film, but who knows if they’ll make appearances here in nearby Vancouver? Meanwhile, a Hollywood thriller is wrapping up this week.

We also take a look at some special messages from stars shooting in town.

Off the top, Elsewhere starts shooting in Sooke, B.C., over on Vancouver Island today (September 11).

While details weren’t previously available about the film, the cast and synopsis was announced this past week.

Produced by Vancouver-based Brightlight Pictures, this comedy-drama is the English-language debut of Costa Rican filmmaker Hernán Jiménez. His film Entonces Nosotros (About Us) was his country’s official submission for best foreign-language film last year.

Aden Young stars as a man grieving the death of his wife who is evicted by his in-laws from the seaside cottage he built with his wife. Consequently, he becomes intent on regaining it by any means, but when he poses as a handyman, he meets the cottage’s intriguing new tenant (Parker Posey).

The cast will also include Ken Jeong, Beau Bridges, and Jacki Weaver.

Although the production is slated to film on Vancouver Island, some reports are stating that there will be filming in the Lower Mainland. Besides, who knows if any of the stars will pop up here in Vancouver if they have some time to spare? Keep your eyes peeled.

While that film starts up, a major Hollywood blockbuster is preparing to finish up.

Dragged Across Concrete is set to wrap on Saturday (September 16). It started production back on July 22.

Directed by Craig Zahler, the thriller stars Vince Vaughn and Mel Gibson as police partners who are suspended after a video exposes their bullying methods and they become the focus of a media storm. With no other options, the pair head on a mission to exact revenge upon the criminal underworld but wind up finding far more than they bargained for.

The cast also includes Jennifer Carpenter, Laurie Holden, Don Johnson, Michael Jai White, Udo Kier, and more.

Vaughn and Gibson previously worked together on the 2016 film Hacksaw Ridge, which Gibson directed.

In late August, Gibson had been spotted with his daughter during a visit to the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE), which is Vancouver’s seasonal amusement park.

While Vancouver star Ryan Reynolds may be playing a super-powered character in Deadpool 2 (which continues filming here until October 10), he used his superpowers as a celebrity (otherwise known as social media) to encourage his fans to support relief efforts for people hit by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.

Let's help Hurricanes Harvey and Irma to fuck off. Support https://t.co/hHom3JZZss or charity of your choice: https://t.co/Txcoiz8mYJ pic.twitter.com/iU43Fi6SOi



— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) September 9, 2017

Hurricane Harvey devastated Texas with catastrophic flooding and damage that displaced thousands of people while Hurricane Irma hit the northeastern Caribbean and Florida.

Meanwhile, another Hollywood star, who is playing an action hero in his latest film being shot here, got to meet a real-life hero.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson met 10-year-old Jacob O’Connor from Detroit on the set of Skyscraper, which Johnson is currently shooting in Vancouver until November 17.

When O’Connor witnessed his two-year-old brother fall into a pool, he pulled him out and began to perform chest compressions on him, having seen Johnson’s character in the 2015 disaster drama San Andreas do the same thing.

O’Connor wound up saving his brother’s life.

Johnson made a little video about the visit, in which he talks about the special meaning behind the shirt that O’Connor wore to the set. (Be warned: have some tissues ready if you’re susceptible to tearjerkers.)

Jacob was super nervous and shy the whole time we hung out, so it was fun getting him to laugh and talk. He threw me for an unexpected spin when he showed up on set wearing a shirt that he proudly made with my bull insignia on the front and on the back was the picture of me holding our two puppies, Brutus and Hobbs, after I rescued them from our pool. Seeing that picture on this boy’s shirt, got me in the gut. Eventually, we would lose Brutus to heaven, but it wasn’t the picture of Brutus that made me tear up, it was the fact that this 10yr old kid, had a heart big enough to put our puppies on his shirt after he saved his little 2yr old brother’s life. What a special day. What a special kid. Thanks Jacob for being awesome and for being the kind of person we all aspire to be. ~ DJ

A post shared by therock (@therock) on Sep 5, 2017 at 1:40pm PDT

On that heartwarming note, that’s all for this week. But check in back with us again for more on what’s going on in Hollywood North.