Arnold Schwarzenegger in Hamilton this month for new Netflix TV spy series
The Terminator" was in town to shoot scenes for his new Netflix TV series.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, known to millions around the world as the titular character in the 1984 hit, and some of its sequels, was in Hamilton the first week of May to film parts of UTAP."
He filmed scenes at an industrial/warehouse on Brockley Drive in east Hamilton for the eight-episode spy series.
According to an April 11 report from What's on Netflix," the series is based on True Lies," the 1994 action/comedy movie that Schwarzenegger appeared in with Jamie Lee Curtis, Tom Arnold, Art Malik, Tia Carrere and the late Bill Paxton. The movie was directed by Niagara Falls native, James Cameron.
The TV series is described as a global spy adventure."
Netflix says a father and daughter have both been working as CIA operatives for years, but each kept their involvement in the CIA hidden from the other, resulting in their entire relationship being a gigantic lie.
Upon learning of each other's involvement in the CIA, the streaming service says they are forced to work together as partners and against the backdrop of explosive action, and espionage, learn who each other really are.
The show was first announced at the end of 2020 and Netflix was beside itself that it had landed Schwarzenegger.
The news is incredibly exciting as Schwarzenegger has had very little experience in television and has never starred in a major role for a series," Netflix said in a statement.
The actor, however, has made guest appearances on various shows, such as Two and a Half Men."
The native Austrian is known for such other films as Twins" (1988), Total Recall" (1990), Kindergarten Cop" (1990), Last Action Hero" (1993), and The Expendables" (2010). He served as governor of California between 2003-2011.
Other cast members include Monica Barbaro (she is in the upcoming Top Gun: Maverick" with Tom Cruise), Montreal funnyman Jay Baruchel and Kids in the Hall' kid Scott Thompson. The series is also filming in Toronto.
The show has a good TV pedigree. Schwarznegger will serve as an executive producer but the show also involves Nick Santora of Blackjack Films. His company has been behind such shows as Prison Break."
The program also involves Skydance Television, which produces Gracie and Frankie," starring Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. Phil Abraham is to direct the show. He has worked on Mad Men" and The Walking Dead."
It's hard to keep a good Goodie down.
Some fans of The Good Witch" - known as The Goodies' - mounted a campaign nine months ago to save the cancelled Hallmark Channel show and believe it is going well. Hallmark cancelled the show after seven seasons and eight movies.
They have targeted the Great American Channel, a family cable network based in Texas, as the perfect outlet to pick up the show. A GAC spokesperson did not return a call from The Spectator, but GAC president and CEO Bill Abbott has expressed interest in an interview in considering the idea.
The series, which focused on the mystical Cassie Nightingale, filmed in the Hamilton area since 2007. Cassandra's home was a Dundas house built in 1847.
#Goodies said in a release to The Spectator that during the last nine months it has run a petition, emailed Hallmark, appealed to Netflix, held a Sunday Night Twitter blitz and appealed to the actors of the show like Catherine Bell, who played Cassie. It says the campaign involves fans from Brazil, Spain and France.
We believe this series was unceremoniously cancelled with many more stories to be told," the release said.
Firestarter," which filmed all over Hamilton last year, opens in theatres May 13. It stars Zac Efron and is based on a Stephen King novel. It's a remake of a 1984 film.
Daniel Nolan is a freelance writer who writes about film for The Hamilton Spectator. He can be reached at dannolanwrites@gmail.com