“Klondike” is a new miniseries filming in Calgary and Southern Alberta that tells the tale of a frontier town in the isolated Yukon wilderness during the gold rush of the 1890s. Based on the novel “Gold Diggers: Striking it Rich in the Klondike” by Charlotte Gray, the series follows the lives of six strangers on the hunt for gold.
Ridley Scott, the award-winning director and producer known for such films as “Blade Runner,” “Alien” and “Gladiator,” is set to executive produce along with the Discovery Channel and Calgary-based production company Nomadic Pictures.
Award-winning actor Chris Cooper, you might recognize him from “Adaptation” and “American Beauty,” has signed on to play one of the series leads.
Southern Alberta has served as the backdrop for many Western-themed projects. “Unforgiven,” “Legends of the Fall” and “Brokeback Mountain” were shot here, as well as the mini-series “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee,” to name a few.
“Hell on Wheels,” also produced by Nomadic Pictures, is currently in production for a third season and the rough and tough series about the construction of the railroad has created juicy acting roles for local talent. “Klondike” will be no different.
Casting calls have gone out for supporting roles and background performers, so expect to see some familiar faces from the local acting community.
“Klondike” is scheduled to start filming mid-March with a tentative air date of fall 2013.