Naman Shrestha
Prime Video’s ‘Merv’ chronicles the events in the life of Anna and Russ, whose break-up also has a negative impact on their furry little friend, Merv. While the titular dog goes through depression due to his owners’ separation, the ex-couple must come up with a co-parenting arrangement. In order to make Merv feel better and rekindle his spirits for the holidays, Russ takes him on a sunny vacation to Florida. In an unexpected turn of events, Anna ends up joining the trip.
While the former couple’s primary goal for spending time together is the well-being of Merv, sparks end up reigniting between them. Helmed by Jessica Swale, the romantic comedy movie features a talented ensemble cast comprising Charlie Cox, Zooey Deschanel, Chris Redd, Patricia Heaton, David Hunt, Ellyn Jameson, and Wynn Everett. The cold backdrop of Minnesota and the sunny setting of Florida represent the contrasting shift in the moods of the characters and their relationships with one another.
Merv Filming Locations
The shooting for ‘Merv’ was conducted in North Carolina and Florida, particularly in New Hanover County. According to reports, principal photography for the Prime Video production got underway in April 2024 and went on for a couple of months before wrapping up in June of the same year.
New Hanover County, North Carolina
A major chunk of ‘Merv’ was lensed in New Hanover County, located in the southern region of North Carolina. To be specific, the city of Wilmington served as the primary production location as it seemingly doubled for Minnesota, where Anna and Russ reside. Several areas of the downtown area of the city were transformed into film sets, including Princess Street. As per reports, the cast and crew members took over a block of Princess Street in May 2024 as it was redecorated with snowy Christmas decorations.
The filming unit placed fake snow on the sidewalks, fake Christmas trees, and an inflatable snowman. Meanwhile, the storefronts of numerous businesses on the street were changed to match the overall theme of the holidays. The production team also traveled a few miles outside of Wilmington to Kure Beach Pier at 100 Atlantic Avenue in the town of Kure Beach. The pier was seemingly transformed into a Florida location, where several important scenes were shot. Moreover, the nearby Carolina Beach served as yet another filming site for ‘Merv.’
The filmmaker, Jessica Swale, shared her experience of shooting the film in Wilmington, stating, “I loved working in Wilmington with my fave cast and crews, @zooeydeschanel, Charlie Cox, DP the legend that is @juliomacat, costumes by genius @allie_pearce, produced by the great @romadowney- and I couldn’t have done any of it without Courtney Gomez my no 1 assistant. Thanks to Wilmington, NC for having us!” Apart from ‘Merve,’ New Hanover County has hosted the production of multiple movies and TV shows over the years. Some of the notable ones include ‘A Walk to Remember,’ ‘The Longest Ride,’ ‘Words on Bathroom Walls,’ ‘Message in a Bottle,’ ‘One True Loves,’ ‘Christmas in Conway,’ ‘Once Upon a Time… When We Were Colored,’ ‘Dream a Little Dream,’ ‘One Tree Hill,’ and ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty.’
Florida
Additional portions for ‘Merv’ were also reportedly taped in Florida, situated in the Southeastern region of the nation. Some of the scenes that are set in the Sunshine State were seemingly shot on location, especially the establishing shots. It is likely that you may spot several popular landmarks and places of interest in the exterior scenes, such as Little Havana, Wynwood Art District, Kaseya Center, Panorama Tower, Four Seasons Hotel Miami, and Southeast Financial Center.
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