Photograph by Myrydd Wells
It’s August, and even many Atlantans are getting in the last of their summer vacations, there are plenty of film and television productions chugging along around town. Here’s what we saw, plus when and where we saw it this month:
New this month, Coming 2 America (QST), the follow-up to the 1988 comedy, has begun production. Starring Eddie Murphy, James Earl Jones, and Wesley Snipes—along with Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan and Arsenio Hall, Coming 2 America was spotted filming at Rick Ross’s Fayetteville mansion in early August. Signs were also posted at Fulton Industrial Boulevard and Campbellton Road on August 19. Several days later, on August 22, production moved into downtown Atlanta, near Underground Atlanta. Crews were in Chattahoochee Hills the next day, and back downtown on August 25.
After We Collided (COLIN), a sequel to 2019’s After, and based on a novel of the same name, has also begun production this August. We spotted signs on I-20 at Fulton Industrial Boulevard on August 15. More recently, between the 24th and the 25th, crews worked out of Braselton at the Chateau Elan Winery and Resort. After We Collided stars Selma Blair, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, and Josephine Langford.
Amazon is shooting a new alternate history series, The Underground Railroad (UGRR), in Georgia. The show, based on the Pulitzer-winning novel written by Colson Whitehead, is set in a world where the historical Underground Railroad is literal network of underground trains, tunnels, and rail infrastructure used to help escaping slaves. So far, The Underground Railroad has only shot in Newton County, spotted there on August 23. The show stars Thuso Mbedu, Chase W. Dillon, Aaron Pierre, and Joel Edgerton. It will be directed by Barry Jenkins, director and writer of the Best Picture Oscar-winning Moonlight.
Another new film, Charming the Hearts of Men (1964), starring Sean Astin, Anna Friel, and Kelsey Grammer, has also begun production. The drama sheds light on the discrimination faced by both black and white women in the 1960s and the legal foundation used by the Times Up movement today. Filming started in the middle of the month, and since then, production has stayed in Madison, spotted on August 12, 13, and 21.
Clint Eastwood’s latest directorial project, The Ballad of Richard Jewel (KIKI), shot its pivotal Centennial Olympic Park bombing scene between July 28 and August 1. Signs were placed along Peachtree Industrial Boulevard on August 6. On the 13th, production moved to Third Rail Studios in Doraville.
Netflix’s Ozark (KRAZO) continued shooting this month, starting in Stone Mountain on August 1. Signs were posted in Roswell at Houze Road and Houze Way on the 3rd. Filming took place up in Canton on August 9. Between the 13th and 14th, scenes were shot at Tthe Cheshire Motor Inn and the Colonnade. August 19 took the series to Berkeley Lake. After that, scenes were shot in Norcross on August 22 and 25.
The Jordan Peele and J.J. Abrams-produced HBO series Lovecraft Country (RP) spent the end of July and the first week of August in downtown Atlanta, on the Mitchel Street set we stumbled upon late last month. After that, crews spent the second week in Inman Park off of Euclid Avenue. On August 16, they were back downtown in Fairlie Poplar. Most recently, signs were up in Newton County on August 23.
Gerard Butler’s Greenland (GLD) filmed in Jonesboro on July 31. The movie then started August downtown, shooting at AmericasMart. On August 8, crews went OTP, all the way out to the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers. Between the 9th and the 12th, production moved down to Riverdale.
Netflix’s Slutty Teenage Bounty Hunters (TBH/326H/MCFLY) also filmed in August. On the 5th, filming was spotted near Underpriced Furniture in Norcross. It then moved to Buckhead, with signs spotted at Mathieson Place and Mathieson Drive. The series next spent some time in Stone Mountain Park in the middle of the month. Between August 22 and 23, scenes were shot in Chamblee, and most recently, crews filmed at Mercer University’s Atlanta campus.
Sweet Magnolias (SM), yet another Netflix series (this one focusing on the lifelong friendship between three Southern women), continued production into August. After ending July in Lithonia, the series was spotted in Covington on August 13. Two days later, filming took place in McDonough.
Black Lightning (SIGN) shot in Lithonia from July 29 to August 1. On the 8th, signs were plopped along North Avenue. Additional filming took place in Decatur on August 13, 22, and 27.
The CW’s Legacies (LGC) filmed in Covington Square on July 30. On August 1, they were spotted in Conyers. August 14 brought a basecamp to Covington near Cousins Middle School. On August 17 and 21, the vampire spin-off series was in Stockbridge.
FOX’s The Resident (TR) set up in Conyers between July 29 and August 1. On August 5, the series took a trip in town, filming at the High Museum in Midtown. The following day, crews were back OTP in Covington. Additional scenes would be shot in Conyers on August 12, 19, and 20. On the 27th, filming took place in Austell.
CBS’s MacGyver (EYE) ended July in Lithonia on July 29. Signs were posted on Polk Street Extension and Whitlock Avenue in Marietta on August 3. Crews worked out of Stockbridge on August 6. The production returned to Marietta from the 14th to the 16th. Also on the 16th, filming took place in Grant Park. At the end of the month, from August 26 to the 29th, scenes were shot in Marietta again.
Also filming in August, the CW’s Dynasty (CROSS EYE) shot in Norcross between the 6th and 8th. Signs were posted in East Cobb on Paper Mill Road on August 20. From the 22nd to the 25th, crews returned to soundstages for filming. The DC Universe series Stargirl (JSA) was in Dallas on August 1. Filming took place in Mableton on the 8th. Scenes were shot at Douglas County High School on August 18. Fear Street (FS) set up at Hard Labor Creek State Park in Rutledge on August 7. Indie film The Time Capsule (HECK YEAH) ended July in Marietta Square and in Conyers. Ron Howard’s Hillbilly Elegy (IVAN) shot in downtown on July 28, set up a basecamp in the parking lot of Georgia State Stadium between August 5 and 7, and was at the Cheshire Motor Inn on August 8. The Conjuring 3 (C3) filmed in Fayetteville on August 1 and 5, and was spotted in Westview Cemetery on August 15.
And finally this month, we’re sad to announce that Pinewood is exiting its partnership in the Fayetteville-located Pinewood Atlanta Studios. After an 18 month period, the studio will remain open solely under the leadership of the venture’s other partner, River’s Rock. The biggest potential loss from this decoupling may come from Disney’s continued business with Pinewood all over the world. It’s too early to tell if we’ll lose Marvel projects long term, but it’s not a good sign. In the short term, the Disney+ series Falcon and the Winter Soldier is gearing up at Pinewood, and it’s likely we will have other Marvel projects during the next 18 months. Pinewood stated that its reason for departing was to better focus on international markets.
