PORT HOPE - A job fair is being held Friday in Port Hope to find background actors, security and support staff for the Warner Bros. Pictures feature film Largo.

The film is believed to be the sequel to Stephen King's It, last year's blockbuster thriller which was also partly filmed in downtown Port Hope.

The casting call is from Third Act Productions, the Vancouver-based production house that also spearheaded the filming of It.

The sequel to It is tentatively scheduled for a Sept. 6, 2019 release and would catch up with the characters about 30 years later as adults, with flashbacks to 1989 when the original movie was set.

Bill Skarsg�rd will reprise his role as Pennywise and James McAvoy, Jessica Chastain, Bill Hader, Jay Ryan, Isaiah Mustafa, James Ransone and Andy Bean have been cast for the grown-up characters.

Third Act Productions will host the job fair at 10 Robertson St., the former Canadian Tire store in Port Hope, from 3 to 6 p.m.

Kate Ingram, Port Hope's communications and community engagement co-ordinator, said that as of Monday no filming permits had been filed with the municipality for the production.

Ingram did say she was expecting additional filming information soon.

"The production company is looking for extras and location support personnel and security," the public notice on the job fair states. "All are welcome and encouraged to attend."

Back in 2016 when It, a remake of the 1990 television miniseries based on King's 1986 novel, filmed scenes in Port Hope, a call also went out for background performers and it was answered by hundreds.

Scott Parnell, the general manager for the Historic Waste Program Management Office, visited with Port Hope council earlier in June to provide a quarterly update on the Port Hope Area Initiative (PHAI) - and at this time, he said PHAI staff were co-ordinating with Warner Bros., to ensure filming for the It sequel and remediation work in the CN/CP viaducts area wouldn't conflict.

In 2014, scenes for the Adam Sandler movie Pixels were filmed in Cobourg.

- with files from Sarah Hyatt, Northumberland News

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Murdoch Mysteries returns to Port Hope this week to film scenes for Season 12

SARAH HYATT

Northumberland News

PORT HOPE - CBC's Murdoch Mysteries television show will be filming scenes on Thursday in Port Hope for Season 12.

"The filming of Murdoch Mysteries is always a welcomed sight in town," said Kevin Narraway, the municipality's marketing and tourism manager. "Our long friendship and affiliation with Murdoch will continue in 2018 with at least one day of filming (on) June 21 in downtown Port Hope."

This means this week Port Hope streets will be transformed to serve as a backdrop for the series - and you may even see horses and carriages.

A public notice issued by the municipality states Shaftesbury Murdoch XII Inc. is "delighted to return to Port Hope to film scenes for Season 12's Episode 1205 of the Murdoch Mysteries."

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Exterior scenes for the show will be filmed on John Street between Walton and Augusta streets, and on Augusta between John and Pine Street South.

On Wednesday, there will be preparations on site between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., reports the municipality. Filming will take place between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. on Thursday.

On Friday, the site reset is scheduled for between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

In the public notice it states, "During filming there will be horse and carriages on the street and brief intermittent traffic control on John and Augusta streets."

The popular series follows William Murdoch, played by Yannick Bisson. Murdoch "pioneers advanced forensic techniques to solve the most challenging crimes."

Season 12 hits viewers' screens on the CBC network starting Sept. 24.

Murdoch Mysteries has used downtown Peterborough, the Mount Community Centre in Peterborough, Port Hope and Cobourg locations as backdrops for the series before.

"Many residents and businessowners have had positive interactions with the cast and film crew over the years and we expect that to continue this year," Narraway said.

Essential equipment vehicles will be parked on private property this week and on John Street (the north curb lane). This parking will be reserved starting at 7 a.m. Wednesday for the arrival of the prep crew later that day, reports the municipality.

All vehicles will be gone at the end of the filming day.

"There is also a positive economic impact to the community when the filming takes place here," said Narraway. "Thousands of dollars are spent hiring police to direct traffic and provide security, fees and permitting, rental of buildings and properties, and residual spending for expenses such as food, beverage and general purchases from cast and crew when visiting the community."

People with questions or concerns can contact the locations department at 416-288-1286, Narraway at 905-376-6737 or Kendra Simmons at 905-376-2792.

Currently, there are no other filming permits for the show filed with Port Hope for 2018.