Vancouver Screen Scene: From Bruce Lee to Frequency and Supernatural

July 4, 2016
CT
By Craig Takeuchi
5 min read

Thanks to Vancouver’s screen industries, we get a lot of interesting visitors.

For instance, a reborn dragon and longstanding supernatural hunters are heading back to town while individuals with unusual abilities are newbie projects getting underway.

Intrigued? Let’s take a look at what’s coming our way.

First up, a new TV series, Frequency, got going as the rest of the city was busy celebrating Canada Day (July 1).

It’s based on the same-named 2000 sci-fi thriller, directed by Gregory Hoblit and starring Dennis Quaid and Jim Caviezel.

While Caviezel played the lead in the film, the TV series lead has been changed to a female role.

Peyton List takes the lead on Frequency.

Philip Ng (shown here in the 2014 film&nbsp;<em>Once Upon a Time in Shanghai</em>) stars as Bruce Lee in <em>Birth of the Dragon</em>.

In the TV version, detective Raimy Sullivan (Peyton List) establishes contact with her now-deceased father, Frank (Riley Smith), via ham radio. Together, they work to solve an unresolved murder case.

Production continues until December 13, and the series will premiere on October 5 on the CW.

Here’s a trailer for the series to get a taste of what it’s all about:

Meanwhile, Bruce Lee is back in town.

Additional photography is being shot in town for the Lee biopic Birth of the Dragon until July 7.

Philip Ng

Philip Ng (shown here in the 2014 film&nbsp;<em>Once Upon a Time in Shanghai</em>) stars as Bruce Lee in <em>Birth of the Dragon</em>.

The feature film, directed by George Nolfi, chronicles Lee as an emerging martial artist, portrayed by Hong Kong star Philip Ng (Once Upon a Time in Shanghai, From Vegas to Macau).

Lee who challenges Shaolin master Wong Jack Man (Yu Xia) to a pivotal fight in San Francisco in the 1960s.

Jingjing Qu stars in The Birth of the Dragon

Philip Ng (shown here in the 2014 film&nbsp;<em>Once Upon a Time in Shanghai</em>) stars as Bruce Lee in <em>Birth of the Dragon</em>.

The film also stars Billy Magnussen (Into the Woods) as martial arts student Steve McKee and Jingjing Qu, who plays McKee’s love interest.

Principal photography originally began in Vancouver in November 2015 and continued until January.

Zoo's James Wolk

Philip Ng (shown here in the 2014 film&nbsp;<em>Once Upon a Time in Shanghai</em>) stars as Bruce Lee in <em>Birth of the Dragon</em>.

On the same day that project concludes (July 7), Season 2 of Zoo also wraps up.

The series is based upon a novel of the same name by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge.

The series follows American zoologist Jackson Oz (James Wolk) as he leads a group of professionals investigating a global wave of vicious, coordinated attacks by animals on humans.

Season 2 began airing on CBS on June 28.

Supernatural

Philip Ng (shown here in the 2014 film&nbsp;<em>Once Upon a Time in Shanghai</em>) stars as Bruce Lee in <em>Birth of the Dragon</em>.

When it comes to television longevity, look no further than Supernatural, which is about to launch into production for Season 12 on July 12, and will continue until April 26, 2017.

The fantasy-horror series follows two brothers (played by Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles) on a mission to hunt down and rid the world of evil supernatural beings, such as demons, ghosts, and monsters.

Burkely Duffield plays the lead of Beyond.

Philip Ng (shown here in the 2014 film&nbsp;<em>Once Upon a Time in Shanghai</em>) stars as Bruce Lee in <em>Birth of the Dragon</em>.

On the flip side, a brand new series, Beyond, is wrapping up production of Season 1 on July 14. (This series is not the same as the Canadian paranormal docu-series with the same name on the Space channel.)

In this new series, a young man named Holden (played by Vancouver’s Burkely Duffield) awakens from a 12-year coma to discover he has supernatural abilities that get him involved in a dangerous conspiracy.

The series is slated to air in early 2017.

Meanwhile, other TV series that we previously mentioned that are starting this week include Season 2 of the Canadian series The Romeo Section (July 4), Season 5 of Arrow (July 5), Season 3 of The Flash (July 7), and Season 6 of Once Upon a Time (July 7).

With so much going on in town, keep your eyes peeled, and stay tuned for more news to come.

Vancouver screen scene
Bruce Lee
Frequency
Supernatural
film industry
new projects
returning favorites
unusual abilities