Vancouver to be home base for 'The Last of Us' season 2
After the first season of “The Last of Us” generated big buzz and an economic boom for Alberta, it looks like British Columbia is next in line to host the production team.
Deadline reported Friday that the HBO series has picked Vancouver as home base for the next season, though it did not provide details on when filming will start.
In a statement, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim said the city is "incredibly excited" to host the production.
“The Last of Us is one of the biggest productions ever filmed in Canada and one of the largest shows on television today," Sim said.
“The choice to move filming to Vancouver is a demonstration of our city’s continued strength in the film and television sector."
The post-apocalyptic drama is based on a 2013 video game, and was one of the largest film or television projects ever filmed in Canada when the first season kicked off in Calgary in July 2021.
HBO decided to renew the series, in which survivors of a pandemic try to save civilization, after airing just two episodes of the first season.
The New Yorker reported the budget for the season exceeded what HBO gave to each of the first five seasons of “Game of Thrones.”
According to a report out of Canmore, the town brought in $225,000 in net revenue after the show filmed there between Nov. 15-20, 2021.
Not only could Vancouver and surrounding areas stand to financially benefit from being the second series’ home base, the city would also get to host stars of the show Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey.
In recent interviews, the pair suggested filming for the second season could start at the end of this year.
The Vancouver mayor said he recently travelled to Los Angeles with the city's film commissioner, Geoff Teoli, and spoke with "several major studios and production companies" about opportunities in Hollywood North.
“Those meetings included representatives from Sony Pictures Television and Warner Bros. Discovery overseeing HBO, two of the forces behind one of the most popular and critically acclaimed shows on television this year," Sim said.
“As we look to the future, I’m confident that we will see even more productions decide to make their home in Vancouver.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Doctors combine a pig kidney transplant and a heart device in a bid to extend woman's life
Doctors have transplanted a pig kidney into a New Jersey woman who was near death, part of a dramatic pair of surgeries that also stabilized her failing heart.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
An Ontario senior thought he called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.