A look at some movies and TV shows that were recently filmed in Mississauga

We know that Mississauga has quickly become an integral part of “Hollywood North,” but recent figures suggest the city is an even bigger part of the multi-billion dollar industry than residents might have imagined. 

Recently, Ontario Creates and Lisa MacLeod, Ontario’s Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism & Cultural Industries, announced that Ontario hit a record level of $2.16 billion in film and television production in 2019, supporting 44,540 full-time equivalent direct and spin-off jobs. 

Mississauga was hugely instrumental in the province’s success, as major productions such as V Wars, Self-Made, Designated Survivor, Dare Me, Shadow Hunters, Titans, In the Dark and The Boys were all filmed in the city (and all contributed to the record expenditure in Ontario).

The province says the uptick in film and television production created 7,500 new jobs for Ontarians.

Mississauga has indeed been a hotspot of entertainment industry activity. The city recently announced that William F. White International Inc. (Whites) will be opening a second studio location in the municipality- Whites Studios Cantay.

“Mississauga is a city in demand, and we are quickly becoming known as Studio City North. With the addition of Whites’ second studio in Mississauga, our city’s filming activity is at an all-time high,” said Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie in an earlier statement. 

“This investment will not only support jobs and attract talent from coast to coast; it will also boost economic growth and further raise Mississauga’s profile in the film sector. Now home to six major film studios, Mississauga is the ideal place for Canada’s film and television sector to thrive, given our strategic location, proximity to the airport and competitive business environment. Mississauga’s creative industry is on the rise.”

The first Whites Studios location, Whites Studios Edwards Blvd., opened in January and features more than 150,000 square feet of space split between four soundstages. 

The new Whites Studios Cantay location features 181,000 square feet of space also and is divided between four stages.

The new studio will bring Mississauga’s total studio square footage to almost 900,000 square feet.

As for what else has been filmed in the city, Mississauga has appeared (often incognito) as such popular shows as The Handmaid’s Tale, Coroner, Wayne (a YouTube comedy series), Private Eyes, The Umbrella Academy (Netflix), Schitt’s Creek, Mary Kills People, 12 Monkeys (the series, not the 1995 Bruce Willis film), Odd Squad, Black Mirror (Netflix), and Workin Moms.

Movies made in the city include Polar (Netflix), The Lie, A Simple Favour, (starring Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively) Fahrenheit 451, the Academy Award-winning The Shape of Water, A Family Man (starring Gerard Butler), Downsizing (starring Matt Damon), Special Correspondents (a Netflix film starring Eric Bana and Ricky Gervais), Room (starring Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay) and more. 

“In 2020, we are continuing to work with Ontario Creates and the industry to ensure producers at home and around the globe know that there’s no better place to create content than right here in Ontario,” MacLeod said in a statement.

The province says Ontario is a leader in domestic film and television production, and is home to a booming foreign production sector. 

Popular and critically acclaimed productions such as Cardinal and Letterkenny are produced in Northern Ontario; Hilda is made in Ottawa; and Workin’ Moms, Kim’s Convenience and Star Trek: Discovery are filmed in the Greater Toronto Area. 

The Umbrella Academy, Schitt’s Creek and many others are filmed across central and southwestern Ontario.

“The government’s commitment to growing Ontario’s film and television industry means big business for Ontario and a globally competitive production scene,” says Karen Thorne-Stone, President & CEO, Ontario Creates. 

“Our suite of financial incentives, over 10,000 locations, world-class crews, diverse talent, award-winning post-production facilities, and expanding studio space are a huge draw for producers from Canada, the U.S. and around the world.”