‘Hello Stranger,’ we’re making a sci-fi thriller in Hamilton
Simu Liu has completed filming a science-fiction thriller in Hamilton, months after his success as the star of the Marvel superhero box office hit Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings."
The Kim's Convenience" actor is just one of the stars featured in Hello Stranger" which has shot all over the city and involves Ancaster filmmaker James Van der Woerd.
Woerd told The Spectator it is one of the biggest productions he and his colleague, Tim Doiron, have produced. Doiron is the co-founder of Toronto/Los Angeles-based Wango Films.
Others in the picture include Sam Worthington (Avatar" (2009), Clash of the Titans" (2010), Hacksaw Ridge" (2016)) and Jordana Brewster (The Fast and Furious" franchise).
There's a decent amount of special effects and visual effects," said Van der Woerd. It's one of our biggest projects. It's sort of like a studio-level cast. There's definitely some Blade Runner" tones to it. It's definitely science-fiction, but we try to keep it grounded. It's sort of what could be our future."
Filming wrapped up last week after beginning in Hamilton at the end of January. The production also shot in Cambridge.
The movie centres on Faye, who replaces her recently deceased husband, Evan, with an android simulant (SIM). Faye is lukewarm to her new SIM, but SIM Evan works at trying to win her over. At the same time, he tries to avoid a government agent chasing down SIMs who appear to have gained consciousness and pose a threat to humankind.
Hello Stranger" shot at the FirstOntario Concert Hall (Hamilton Place), Sheraton Hotel, Art Gallery of Hamilton, James Street Bookseller and Skylight Steelworks, the film studio at Stelco on Wilcox Street. Van der Woerd said filming in the concert hall saw its second floor dressed up as a laboratory.
The production also shot at a home in Glanbrook on Chippewa Road East, near Tyneside Road; a Chippewa Road East property, near Ferris Road; an auto repair shop on Barton Street East, near John Street North; and a home off Sydenham Road in Flamborough.
Van der Woerd says the movie will come out in 2023. It was directed by April Mullen and the script is by Ryan Christopher Churchill.
It's the second film Van der Woerd and Doiron have made in Hamilton. In November and December of last year, they made the comedy Relax, I'm from the Future'' with Gabrielle Graham and New Zealand comic Rhys Darby. It filmed at such locales as the downtown library, The Cotton Factory and the Ancaster Radial Line Trail.
Van der Woerd said it's a good bet future projects will be filmed here. Doiron bought a home in Hamilton last fall.
Hamilton is going to be one of our first choices to look at for filming," said the graduate of Bishop Tonnos Catholic Secondary School. We like it here and the city is good to us. It's sort of become a natural place for us to film."
Two Christmas movies filmed here over the last month.
Chasing Christmas" shot at three locations in February. It filmed at The Textile Building on George Street; at a home on Victoria Street in Dundas; and at a business at Main Street South and Griffin Street in Waterdown.
The Christmas Switch" shot at a home on Bold Street, near James Street South, during the first week of March. This past week, it shot scenes at Liuna Station.
Other films that were shooting in Hamilton:
- Love Subscription" shot at The Cotton Factory and at the Hamilton Farmers Market. It also filmed in a King Street East building in the downtown.
- Secrets at the Inn" shot the week of Feb. 14 at the Scottish Rite. It appears to be a thriller.
- The End of Sex," a romantic comedy starring Emily Hampshire from Schitt's Creek," filmed at the Knollwood golf courses (old and new) on Shaver Road and Book Road West in Ancaster.
Daniel Nolan is a freelance writer who writes about film for The Hamilton Spectator. He can be reached at dannolanwrites@gmail.com