Vancouver theatre disguised as Seattle airport for mystery TV production
Filming seems to be ramping up in Vancouver, and Daily Hive stumbled upon an elaborate TV production taking place at a notable theatre near downtown on Monday.
We spotted a massive film crew at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver, featuring FBI vehicles, other vehicles that appeared to be from the 1960s, and signs indicating that the theatre had been transformed into Seattle International Airport.
Amir Ali/Daily Hive
Some folks on social media have started theorizing what the shoot could be for, with some suggesting it’s for the upcoming season of Tracker and someone else saying that it could be the Legally Blonde prequel, Elle. Daily Hive asked a film crew member on the scene who suggested it was for a TV show but couldn’t share any additional details, which doesn’t rule out either of those options.
We’ve spoken to a few industry insiders who are leaning toward the shoot being for Elle. Creative BC would not comment.
Amir Ali/Daily Hive
There were numerous background actors on the scene, and craft services were plentiful, indicating a likely large crew of actors.
Amir Ali/Daily Hive
Production crews went so far as to replace the banners at Queen Elizabeth Theatre, replacing them with more signs indicating Seattle Airport.
Amir Ali/Daily Hive
One notable show recently filmed in Vancouver, the second season of The Last of Us, is also set in Seattle.
The production reminds us of a conversation we had with producer Chris Ferguson, who Daily Hive spoke to last month. In that chat, we discussed with Ferguson the tendency for studios to shoot in Vancouver and disguise it as other cities, often Seattle.
Ferguson told us he doesn’t necessarily know how to fix it, aside from producing movies that are set here, proving that it works. That also connects to what Ferguson told us about the need for more Vancouver-based production companies.
“If the head creatives are living in Vancouver and running shows out of [Vancouver], they’re going to be more likely to want to tell stories out of Vancouver.”
We’ve reached out to Queen Elizabeth Theatre in hopes it could share what the shoot was for. If you have some information to share, please email vancouver@dailyhive.com.