Vancouver Screen Scene: From Imaginary Mary and Death Note to Everything, Everything

This week’s roundup of what’s shooting in Vancouver includes several big productions wrapping up, some TV series kicking off, and some film projects soon to come to town.

Things start on a whimsical note as Imaginary Mary starts shooting today (August 22).

Jenna Elfman (Dharma & Greg) stars as Alice, a career woman who has to adapt to changes in her life when she falls in love with a divorced father of three kids.

What’s different about this series is that it’s a combination of live action and CGI, as Alice’s imaginary childhood friend Mary (voiced by Rachel Dratch) comes back to help—or hinder—her as she shifts from single life to partnership and the prospect of parenthood.

Later this week, Dirk Gentlywraps up production on Season 1 on August 26. Shooting began back in May.

The series is an adaptation of Douglas Adams’ Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency book series that follows the adventures of an investigator into paranormal activity.

(You may recognize Adams’ name as the author of the Hitchhikers’ Guide to the Galaxy novel series.)

While Samuel Barnett plays the titular role, Elijah Wood stars as a hotel bellboy who becomes Gently’s reluctant assistant Todd.

Meanwhile, two big productions are leaving town this week, taking some big names with them.

The action-comedy Why We’re Killing Gunther, which started in town on July 19 with stars Arnold Schwarzenegger and Taran Killam, ends its shoot on Friday (August 26).

On the same day, Bong Joon-ho’s Netflix movie Okja, which began the Vancouver leg of its international production on July 31, also wraps things up.

In the film, a little girl (played by Seo-Hyeon Anh) befriends a massive creature but the two go on the run when the government tries to capture it.

The international cast includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Tilda Swinton, Lily Collins, Paul Dano, Hie-bong Byeon, and Steven Yeun.

The following week, the Netflix film Death Note ends its shoot on August 30.

It’s an adaptation of a Japanese manga series, which was previously adapted into three live-action films and a TV drama in Japan.

The story explores what happens when a student discovers a supernatural notebook. He discovers that if he writes the name of any person in the book, that person will die.

When a police officer begins to catch on to what the student is doing, a cat-and-mouse game ensues.

The horror film stars Nat Wolff (Paper Towns) in the lead role, alongside Margaret Qualley (The Nice Guys).

Yet while some productions may be leaving us, there are always more on the horizon.

Nicola Yoon’s debut young-adult novel Everything, Everything is being adapted into a feature film.

The story follows Maddy, a teenager who has severe combined immunodeficiency, which causes her to be allergic to everything.

After living an isolated existence for 17 years, she meets a teenage boy who moves in next door and begins to fall in love.

The film will star Amandla Stenberg (The Hunger Games) and Nick Robinson (Jurassic World).

Shooting begins September 6 and concludes on October 7.

A big-name production coming this way is Tully, which starts shooting on September 21 and continues until November 2. The production reunites director Jason Reitman, screenwriter Diablo Cody, and actor Charlize Theron, who worked together on the 2011 feature film Young Adult.

The comedy explores what happens when a mother of three (Theron) is given a nanny as a gift from her brother. Although reluctant at first, she forms an unexpected bond with the thoughtful but challenging young nanny.

Vancouver’s Mackenzie Davis (The Martian), who will also star in the Blade Runner sequel, was announced as joining the cast.

Well, that’s it for this week, star gazers, but check in with us next week for more of what’s filming in Vancouver. In the meantime, keep those eyes—and iPhones—peeled as you wander the streets of Hollywood North.