Sony Pictures/ Netflix series adaption of Ali Novak’s novel, My Life with the Walter Boys which was filmed north of Airdrie, in Crossfield in the summer of 2022 is hitting Netflix on December 7, 2023.
The announcement of yet another Alberta-made film hitting popular streaming services follows on the heels of The premiere of the fifth season of Fargo, also shot north of Airdrie.
My Life with the Walter Boys is a 10-episode teen drama that stars Nikki Rodriguez (On My Block) as 15-year-old Jackie Howard. Howard makes the bold move from metropolitan Manhattan with her family guardian to Colorado to live with the Walter family after a tragedy. The series revolves around Rodriguez's character who navigates her new home and new reality as well as her budding feelings for two very different boys in her life - the Walter brothers.
The star-studded cast includes Noah LaLonde (Criminal Minds) as Cole Walter, one of Jackie's love interests, Ashby Gentry (Are You Afraid of the Dark) as Alex Walter, the other Walter brother, Sarah Rafferty (Suits) as Dr. Katherine Walter, and Marc Blucas (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) as George Walter, among many other very-well known Primetime TV actors and actresses.
According to IMDb (Internet Movie Database), the series creator is Melanie Halsall who has worked on other notable series such as BBC’s TV short series Shaun the Sheep as an executive producer.
While the series is debuting right in time for the holidays, it's not the only Alberta-filmed T.V. series that has made international headlines. Recently, The Motion Picture Association – Canada (MPA-Canada) released numbers on just how influential another cult hit series filmed in Alberta was. According to the news release, HBO's, The Last of Us, was, 'the largest series ever filmed in Canada with over $141 million spent across Alberta.'
"The analysis by Oxford Economics found that $71 million of production spending supported wages and salaries for local cast, crew and production personnel, with the remaining $70 million spent at local businesses. From lumber and construction supplies to hotels, local catering and more, the series supported over 1,000 Alberta businesses in communities across the province," the release stated.
“With more than 180 locations spread out over 1,000 km of terrain, the film commissions in Alberta met the enormous challenge of helping to create the largest series ever shot in Canada,” added Mark Ham, Alberta Film Commissioner. “Thanks to the success of The Last of Us, the global film industry is now talking about Alberta as a fantastic place to bring their stories to life on the screen, no matter the size of the project. We have great incentives, crew and locations — a combination that is hard to find anywhere else.”
The series has been nominated for 24 Emmys, including Outstanding Drama Series.
"Canadian creatives working in front of and behind the camera have been recognized for their exceptional contributions to the critically acclaimed global series. Overall, the show generated more than $182 million for Alberta’s GDP and stimulated a total of 1,490 jobs across the province."
The Last of Us has already been renewed for a second season by HBO. As the series’ post-apocalyptic timeline moves on and Joel and Ellie continue west, Canada will continue to benefit from the significant economic and cultural benefits of The Last of Us with the production of season two slated to film in British Columbia.
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