The Hamilton Spectator

Schwarzene­gger shoots scenes here for TV series

- DANIEL NOLAN

“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.

 ?? HAMILTON SPECTATOR FILE PHOTO ?? Arnold Schwarzene­gger was filming scenes in east Hamilton for a new television series “UTAP” based on his 1994 hit movie, “True Lies,” also starring Jamie Lee Curtis.
HAMILTON SPECTATOR FILE PHOTO Arnold Schwarzene­gger was filming scenes in east Hamilton for a new television series “UTAP” based on his 1994 hit movie, “True Lies,” also starring Jamie Lee Curtis.
 ?? VIVIEN KILLILEA PARAMOUNT PICTURES ?? Monica Barbaro, who stars in “Top Gun: Maverick” with Tom Cruise, joins Arnold Schwarzene­gger in the Netflix spy series, “UTAP.”
VIVIEN KILLILEA PARAMOUNT PICTURES Monica Barbaro, who stars in “Top Gun: Maverick” with Tom Cruise, joins Arnold Schwarzene­gger in the Netflix spy series, “UTAP.”
 ?? ?? FOR MORE TV AND FILM NEWS IN THE HAMILTON AREA BY DAN NOLAN, SCANE THIS CODE.
FOR MORE TV AND FILM NEWS IN THE HAMILTON AREA BY DAN NOLAN, SCANE THIS CODE.
 ?? ??
 ?? BROOKE PALMER TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE ?? Goodies rejoice, there is good news building about a return of “The Good Witch,” starring Catherine Bell.
BROOKE PALMER TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE Goodies rejoice, there is good news building about a return of “The Good Witch,” starring Catherine Bell.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Canada