Metro Vancouver is once again living up to its “Hollywood North” nickname, as the streets are transformed into the gritty, post-apocalyptic world of HBO’s critically acclaimed series, ‘The Last of Us’. Travelers and locals alike have been catching glimpses of a large-scale production, with military convoys and soldiers in fatigues taking over key urban areas for the filming of the show’s third season.
Hollywood North’s Enduring Appeal
The choice of British Columbia as a primary filming location is no surprise. The province’s film and television industry is a major economic driver, with production spending reaching an impressive $4.9 billion in the 2022-2023 fiscal year, according to Creative BC. The region offers a versatile backdrop that few places can match—from dense forests and mountainous terrain to sleek modern cityscapes and historic streets, all within a short distance. This diversity makes it the perfect canvas for a story that traverses various environments in a collapsed society.
Following the first season’s successful shoot in Alberta, the production’s move to Metro Vancouver for subsequent seasons underscores Canada’s growing importance in the world of high-budget television.
Recent Filming Hotspots
Recent production activity has been centered in New Westminster, a historic city within the Metro Vancouver area. Several blocks of the iconic Front Street were recently shut down to accommodate scenes featuring a significant military presence. Eyewitnesses reported seeing numerous military vehicles and actors, turning the typically bustling street into a convincing restricted zone.
This follows other high-profile shoots in the region, including at the landmark former Hudson’s Bay building in downtown Vancouver. The production team is meticulously using various locations to build the immersive world that fans have come to expect from the series.
The Future Impact: A New Wave of Film Tourism?
While the immediate economic benefits of a large-scale production are clear—jobs for local crews, business for hotels and suppliers—the long-term impact could be even more significant. The global success of ‘The Last of Us’ positions Vancouver for a major surge in film tourism.
The show’s first season garnered massive viewership, with the premiere attracting over 10 million viewers in its first two days and the finale hitting a series high of 8.2 million same-day viewers on HBO. This massive, dedicated fanbase is known to travel to see the real-world settings of their favorite stories. We have seen this phenomenon with series like ‘Game of Thrones’, which permanently boosted tourism to locations in Croatia, Iceland, and Northern Ireland. Similarly, New Zealand has enjoyed a decades-long tourism boom thanks to ‘The Lord of the Rings’ trilogy.
Once season three airs, it is highly probable that fans from around the world will add Vancouver, New Westminster, and other featured BC locations to their travel itineraries. This provides a unique and sustainable boost to the local tourism industry, as visitors seek to walk the same streets as the show’s beloved characters. For travelers heading to Vancouver in the near future, you might not just see the city’s famous sights—you might just catch a glimpse of a television blockbuster in the making.
