DISNEY PICKS ALBERTA TO PLAY ALASKA
Willem Dafoe to star in true story of dogsled driver who delivers serum
A Disney movie about the 1925 serum run in Alaska starring triple Oscar nominee Willem Dafoe is expected to start shooting in the mountains west of Calgary this fall.
Togo will tell the true story of the titular sled dog and driver Leonhard Seppala. According to reports in Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, Seppala will be played by Dafoe. The project is slated for Disney ’s streaming service, which doesn’t launch until late next year.
Exact locations are not yet known, but will likely be in a “mountain terrain,” says Tom Benz, Motion Picture Business Agent for IATSE 212, which represents film workers in Calgary.
“They will be starting in September and going until the end of winter, trying to get all four seasons on camera,” he said.
The 1925 serum run involved dogsleds transporting serum to save the city from a diphtheria outbreak. Togo was an unlikely dogsled leader, both small and unruly. But the story of Seppala and his trusty Siberian husky became known the world over. The serum run was the inspiration for the Iditarod race.
Disney has had its eyes on the feel-good story for a number of years. Back in 2015, Variety reported that the movie was being developed. Tom Flynn, who wrote and directed 1993’s Watch It and wrote last year’s Gifted with Chris Evans, penned the screenplay. According to Internet Move Database, Ericson Core will direct. Dafoe earned his third Oscar nomination last year for his performance in the drama The Florida Project.
This isn’t the first attempt to turn the story into an adventure film in Alberta. Back in 2012, it was announced that Alberta would sub in for Alaska for Race to Save Nome, a project with different producers that has no connection to Togo. Kurt Russell and Hilary Swank were reportedly attached to the film, although that was never officially confirmed.
In other film news, Drumheller’s otherworldly qualities are expected to be put to good use for Netflix’s Lost In Space. Producers of the sci-fi reboot have put a call out for extras for the Sept. 10 to 21 shoot. According to the Drumheller Mail, an open casting call will be held at Aug. 18 at the Ramada Hotel in Drumheller from 10 to 5 p.m. All ethnicities are required, aged eight to 60.
They will be starting in September and going until the end of winter, trying to get all four seasons on camera.