‘Code 8’ featuring former ‘Flash’ and ‘Arrow’ stars spotted filming in Hamilton

The sequel to a sci-fi movie that was a hit on Netflix last year is filming in Hamilton.

It's at least the sixth Netflix production that has filmed in the city this year, including The Umbrella Academy" which has shot in the city since cameras rolled for its first season in 2018.

In April, the streaming giant opened a corporate office in Toronto, with the intention of working with Canadian creators to tell stories from Canada.

Code 8: Part II" was spotted filming on the west Mountain, at the brow near West 5th Street and Fennell Avenue West.

It had a base camp set up last week in a Stelco parking lot at Gage Avenue North and Burlington Street East. It was likely filming scenes at Skylight Steelworks, a joint arts/film site between U.S.-based Skylight studios and Stelco on Wilcox Street at the Hilton Works.

The city has also hosted Netflix's Painkiller," a story about the U.S. opioid crisis, fantasy-adventure Slumberland," glass blowing contest show Blown Away" and Guillermo del Toro Presents 12 After Midnight," a horror anthology show. Eight Netflix productions filmed in Hamilton in 2019 and 2020.

Code 8: Part II" stars Robbie Amell (who played Firestorm on The Flash") and his cousin Stephen Amell (who played Oliver Queen on Arrow"). The Toronto-born pair are repeating their roles from Code 8."

Netflix announced it had acquired the sequel at the Banff World Media Festival in June.

A Code 8" synopsis: A desperate young man with special powers named Connor Reed (Robbie Amell) commits a series of petty crimes and is hunted by a militarized force.

The synopsis for the sequel: After witnessing the murder of her brother and subsequent coverup, a teenage girl with abnormal abilities seeks the help of ex-con Connor Reed and his former partner-in-crime Garret (Stephen Amell). Together, they face a unit of corrupt police officers who deploy advanced robotic technology to prevent themselves from being exposed.

The film is set in a place called Lincoln City, where four per cent of the residents possess special powers.

Code 8" first appeared as a short film from Vancouver director Jeff Chan. A total of $2.5 million was crowdsourced from 35,000 people to make it into a feature film. Chan, who won an award for best short at the Edmonton International Film Festival in 2010, is also directing the sequel.

We're beyond thrilled to get the team back together and bring more of the Code 8 universe to our very passionate fans," Chan said in a June statement. We know this is a sequel that will push the story to new heights."

When Code 8" ran on Netflix in 2020, it trended in the top 10 viewed by customers in the United States and Great Britain.

Netflix continues to grow its customers base, despite recently coming under fire for a Dave Chapplle comedy special criticized for being transphobic and harmful to transgender people. According to the New York Times, Netflix gained 4.4 million new subscribers during the third quarter, bringing its worldwide base to 222 million. It had $7.5 billion in revenue and $1.4 billion in profits.

The Times also reported 142 million accounts tuned into the dystopian drama Squid Game" from South Korea. Netflix said it was its No. 1 program in 94 countries.

Two shows filmed in Hamilton this year have found homes on Showcase. Part of the fun of watching Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol" and the horror show Chucky" is trying to find local scenes. The Lost Symbol" is set in Washington, D.C., so it hasn't been easy so far, but a shot of two characters in Union Station in Washington? It is actually Union Station in Toronto. A Halloween party unfolds in one episode of Chucky" and the exterior is of a Jerseyville Road home in Ancaster.

Daniel Nolan is a freelance writer who writes about film for The Hamilton Spectator. He can be reached at dannolanwrites@gmail.com