Sumith Prasad
The filming of the cop drama series ‘Allegiance’ is set to begin in Vancouver and Surrey, British Columbia, from September 11 to December 20, 2023. Created by Anar Ali (‘Transplant’), the riveting crime drama tells the story of a rookie policewoman named Sabrina Singh, whose father, the Minister of Public Safety, is arrested for terrorism. Singh is in a spot where she has to navigate between her family, country, identity, the truth, and politics. The show, to be directed by David Frazee (‘Flashpoint’ and ‘Endgame’), probes the Canadian justice system and will premiere on CBC in the winter of 2024.
British Columbia is one of the most sought-after filming locations in Canada, with its breathtaking landscapes, towns nestled among dense forests, and shifting sceneries between urban and natural beauty. Vancouver is best known as “Hollywood North” as hit movies and TV shows like ‘The Flash,’ ‘Supernatural,’ ‘I, Robot,’ ‘Once Upon a Time,’ ‘Arrow,’ ‘50 Shades of Grey,’ ‘Deadpool,’ and ‘The X-Files’ were filmed here. Film productions also favor Surrey, where popular feature films and dramas like ‘Smallville,’ ‘Nancy Drew,’ ‘The Stand,’ ‘Riverdale,’ and ‘The Twilight Saga: Eclipse,’ to name a few, were shot. Surrey’s proximity to downtown Vancouver and major film studios at a half-hour distance, as well as film-friendly facilities, make it a favorable spot for filmmakers and they often use both locations for their production.
Allegiance’s first season is being locally produced by Scott Road Productions with David Valleau as the executive producer and Brad Van Arragon as the line producer. The cast of the show has not been announced yet. Helmed by the showrunners Mark Ellis and Stephanie Morgenstern (‘Flashpoint’ and ‘X Company’), ‘Allegiance’ is also produced by Lark Productions and internationally distributed by Universal International Studios.
Director Anar Ali, originally from Tanzania and part of the Asian Heritage in Canada, has written a short story collection titled ‘Baby Khaki’s Wings’ and a novel titled ‘Night of Power’. A finalist for prestigious literary awards such as the Commonwealth Writer’s Prize, the Trillium Book Award, and the Danuta Gleed Literary Prize, Ali is also a screenwriter for NBC/CTV’s medical show ‘Transplant’.
The Sikh identity of Allegiance’s protagonist is not a coincidence; in fact, it is one of several shows by CBC that are inclusive of different identities in the multicultural country. In a press release, Barbara Williams, Executive Vice-President of CBC, said that their show “reflects the changing face of Canada.” “We’re different. We stand apart from others, just as strong and just as significant. We want all Canadians to see CBC as their thing – as a Canada thing that makes everyone feel they belong, regardless of their age, background or location,” Williams further added.
