#SPOTTED: JASON PRIESTLEY IN TORONTO FOR “SAVING HOPE”

90210h yeah! Jason Priestley may best be recognized as Brandon Walsh from ’90s Hit Series Beverly Hills, 90210, but it is the 416 where he’s been much of late.

After a successful run at St. Lawrence Theatre with David Mamet‘s Play Race, the Actor has kept plenty busy signing-on to direct an episode  of CTV Hit Series, Saving Hope. The Medical Drama, now filming its second season mostly in the West End, continues into late September.

All decked-out in a Blazer in this scorching heat, Priestley instantly was recognized by Fans outside his Hotel in good spirits today, posing for Snaps.

See our Snap:

In addition to Priestley, we spotted Beverly Hills, 90210 Alumni Jennie Garth and Tori Spelling in the City earlier this year.  Fams of the Series will be thrilled that he is reuniting with Co-Star Luke Perry this August in Toronto for Fan Expo Canada!  Details here.

(Photo credit: Entertainment One/Mr. Will Wong)

#SPOTTED: IAN SOMERHALDER & NINA DOBREV IN TORONTO FOR EASTER

One of Television’s favourite real-life Couples came back to Toronto to deliver a bit of Easter Cheer.  Toronto Native Nina Dobrev, Star of The CW‘s hit Series The Vampire Diaries arrived in Toronto with her Partner/Co-Star Ian Somerhalder on Good Friday, and in addition to visiting her Family, they also visited one special Fan at SickKids Hospital earlier today.

Cambridge Teen Kayla Baker recently was admitted to Intensive Care at the Toronto Hospital, still currently awaiting a double Lung Transplant.  Her Idols Dobrev and Somerhalder put aside time to pay her a special visit shortly after 3:00 PM Saturday, spending an  hour with her, making a life’s wish come true.  Baker‘s Classmates at St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School meanwhile continue to raise funds aggressively in her honour.

See Dobrev and Somerhalder‘s Video to Baker below:

Earlier in the day, the Couple made a stop-off at our famous St. Lawrence Market and put aside a little time for Spirit and Health after their Hospital visit doing a Hot Yoga Session at a Queen Street West Studio, where one surprised Patron had the pleasure of Somerhalder being her Yoga Partner!   Unfortunately, some Fans who spotted the Couple out and about earlier today were denied Photos with the Couple, but they did get waves from Dobrev in the Driver’s Seat and Somerhalder in the Passenger’s Seat of their car. 

Dobrev and Somerhalder were spotted early Easter Day enjoying some Tim Hortons before heading-off to an Easter Lunch with the Family.  The Couple headed straight out of Toronto midday with Family sending them off with a warm Goodbye, as they embark on a new work week. The Couple were amazingly nice to stop quickly for a few Photos with Fans, a sunglass-donning Somerhalder whispering, “Be careful not to draw attention to us.”. The Vampire Diaries continues to film in Georgia, with its fourth season Finale set to air mid-May.

Meanwhile, Dobrev and Somerhalder‘s Diaries Co-Stars Daniel Gillies and Joseph Morgan just have been announced to star in a Spin-Off of the wildly successful Series, set in New Orleans.  That Episode which will serve as a Pilot for the Series, airs on Thursday, April 25, 2013.  This however, keeps Gillies a v. busy Man as he’s also to film the second season of CTV‘s Medical-Drama Series Saving Hope in Toronto as well up till September.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

#FILMING: TORONTO PRODUCTION UPDATES: “QUEEN OF THE NIGHT”, “THE BEST MAN 2”, “DEBUG”, “POMPEII”, “SAVING HOPE”, “LUCKY 7” & “MANHATTAN UNDYING”

Some exciting news at last  for Toronto, which currently is going through a virtual Production Drought without a major Feature to film in the City this Winter.  The closest brush we’ve had these past couple months t a major Feature Production is Atom Egoyan‘s Queen of the Night, although a vast majority of filming for that Ryan Reynolds-starring Thriller is taking place in Sudbury. 

Locals in the 705 have marvelled at the sight of him, talented Wife Blake Lively and her cute Yorkshire Terrier Penny, including the Staff at this Sudbury Animal Clinic, who where stunned to see Lively and lucky enough to get this amazing Group Photo with her!  Sudbury Native Larissa Kozoriz admits to me that she’s still ecstatic about the experience saying,  “I’m pretty starstruck… but she is a very very nice woman.. Beautiful.. Pictures do not do her justice! Memorable moment!”.  Production continues until mid-March with hopefully some Toronto sightings to happen soon.  eOne Films will release Queen of the Night in Canada in 2014.

Universal Pictures’ The Best Man 2 might be pencilled-in for a November 2013 release date, but it so slated to film in the City between April and May.  The Sequel to the 1999 Dramedy which grossed $35 million worldwide, stars a brilliant Cast including Terrence Howard, Nia Long, Regina Hall, Morris Chestnut, Taye Diggs and Sanaa Lathan. Malcolm Lee returns once again as Writer/Director.

Also announced recently was 3-D Action Adventure, Pompeii, from Paul W.S. Anderson, known best for his work helming installments of the Resident Evil Franchise, set to film to Toronto from late April through early July. Starring Game of Thrones‘ Kit Harington, production is slated to film at Cinespace Film Studios.  Additional Casting details to follow, but surely we’ll be seeing  lovely and sweet Mrs. Anderson herself, Milla Jovovich in-town?

Although announced incorrectly via the Ontario Media Development Corporation‘s Website that Anderson would also be directing Sci-Fi Flick Debug, it is confirmed that Actor David Hewlett is directing the Film. Production is taking place currently at Pinewood Studios, up till early March. The official Synopsis describes it as being about  “six young Computer Hackers, sent to work on a derelict Space Freighter, are forced to match wits with a vengeful Artificial Intelligence that would kill to be Human”. 

Secret Ballot Director Babak Payami will begin production on his Drama Manhattan Undying, which centers around a female Vampire who hires an Artist to paint a portrait of her so that she can see herself for the first time.  Brothers & Sisters Star Luke Grimes plays Lead in the Film, which will see its production based out of Hamilton up till late March. This has TIFF  2013/2014 written allover it.

ABC recently green-lit a new TV Pilot titled Lucky 7 which is based on a BBC Series The Syndicate, about  seven Service Station Workers from Queens who win the Lottery.  So far, Isaiah Whitlock Jr. is confirmed among the Cast and it will film between March through May in the City.

Even though his critically-panned Thriller A Dark Truth starring Eva Longoria, Forest Whitaker and Andy Garcia filmed partly in Sudbury and Toronto last year, Director Damian Lee will be returning to both locales late March through mid-April with another Thriller in A Fighting Man. Casting details to follow.

Last but not least, there may have been some doubts that CTV Medical Drama Series Saving Hope would be returning for a second season after mixed response south of the Border where it aired on NBC, but alas it is ready to begin production again mid-March through late September out in Mississauga.  Stars Daniel Gillies, Michael Shanks and Erica Durance are expected to return.

 

(Photo credit: Larissa Kozoriz)