ABC’s The Rookie: North spinoff is filming in Cloverdale this week, with storefront changes and street closures for the shoot.
The Story
Parts of Surrey’s Cloverdale neighbourhood have been transformed for filming of ABC’s The Rookie: North, a spinoff of the Nathan Fillion series, with production activity running this week and involving street and storefront changes. Cloverdale BIA executive director Paul Orazietti said production companies have been building relationships with Surrey’s town centre and its historic character.
Orazietti said the show’s presence reflects Cloverdale’s appeal to both production teams and fans, noting that some viewers want to return for future shoots. He also pointed to the neighbourhood’s growing film activity, adding that Cloverdale has previously hosted productions including Smallville on two occasions.
Filming began the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 22 and continued past midnight into Wednesday, Sept. 23. Photos shared by Orazietti and the Cloverdale BIA show changes that include a post office location converted into the Parkland Credit Union, as well as a Pierce County Police Department vehicle positioned near the intersection of 57 Avenue and 176A Street.
The Rookie: North follows Alex Holland, played by Jay Ellis, who joins the Pierce County Police Department as its oldest rookie after a violent home invasion. While the ABC pilot is set in Washington State, production in Metro Vancouver is serving as a stand-in for the setting, according to details shared about the local filming.
Earlier this year, it was announced that The Rookie: North would film in Metro Vancouver starting Tuesday, Feb. 24, extending production into multiple communities in the region. Orazietti also said Cloverdale has hosted several productions this year, including Fire Country, Elle, Durango and Nissan, describing the film industry as an important contributor to the local economy.
Cloverdale BIA recently emphasized the business impact of on-location filming, saying one shoot in Town Centre can bring more revenue than the Rodeo and Fairgrounds generate across an entire year. Orazietti said the local spending tied to production is visible through the economic effects on the community.
Beyond Surrey, the same film season has also brought notable local production activity elsewhere in British Columbia. The announcement accompanying this week’s Surrey filming referenced additional recent shoots in Vancouver, including a Vancouver high school used as a backdrop for Prime Video’s Carrie TV series and a commercial shoot that transformed Gastown into a holiday scene on Sunday night, with holiday decorations and snow on the ground.
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