The Code 8 movies have always been a passion project for cousins Robbie and Stephen Amell, and after the cult success of the first movie on Netflix, the determination to make a sequel led to Code 8: Part II being filmed in Canada, the home of both men. The personal experience of filming the second movie was central to its development, and the passion project sci-fi franchise remains a real success story because of details like this.
Filming Locations
Ontario, Canada
After the first film was filmed in Canada, it was decided that the sequel would also be shot here, and there is a reason that the Amell cousins decided to film there.
In an article covered by People promoting the film’s release, the cousins would talk about the experience of filming the sci-fi adventure. Star Robbie Amell would say, “Steve and I are both from Toronto, so getting to shoot where we grew up and having family come to set and visit [was great].” He would go to explain:
“We shot one day down the block from where Steve grew up. We were standing there and he goes, ‘Do you know where we are?’ I was like, ‘Oh, no way.’ He’s like, ‘Yep, right down that street.’ I’m like, ‘The house with the pool.’ He’s like, ‘Oh, yeah.’ “
One of the locations mentioned in the interview includes Berkindale Drive, and Stephen Amell would state that the street is in an area that he knew from his childhood, after spending ten years in that neighborhood. Eagle-eyed viewers would notice that the aerial shots and establishing shots are all from Ontario.
Other projects by the Amell Cousins
Of course, the first Code 8 was a collaboration between the close family members, and the two would reprise roles for the sequel. However, you might also remember the pair working together on the CW TV series Arrow, which starred Stephen Amell as the legacy superhero. His cousin Robbie played the part of Ronnie Raymond, who is, of course, second-string DC comics hero Firestorm.
The pair would also show up in the CW TV show The Flash.
How did Code 8 get funded?
Interestingly, the film was actually crowd-funded. A campaign on Indiegogo led to the film being made. It accumulated 860% ($1,720,151 USD ) of the target amount, from 20,204 backers, by April 24, 2016.
By the time of the premieres, the Indiegogo campaign had raised $2,402,740 from 28,400 backers, including sales of premiere tickets at two tier levels called regular and VIP. Backers would receive perks ranging from Blu-rays of the finished film to merch such as T-shirts, but higher-end backers would have a chance to be an extra on the film and gain access to the production.
The rights to the sequel were of course picked up by Netflix, leading to Code 8: Part 2.
Do you need to watch Code 8 before watching Code 8: Part II?
While it would certainly help to have seen the original movie first, Code 8: Part II was conceived with the idea that it could be a jumping-on point into the Code 8 universe. This obviously isn’t he ideal way of doing things, but you wouldn’t miss out on too much.
In an interview with WTNH News (above), the cousins confirm that you can watch the sequel and then go back and find the original.
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