Arnold Schwarzenegger, the illustrious bodybuilder, action star, and former governor, can now add another highlight to his extensive résumé: a visit to Elora.
Schwarzenegger was spotted on a dreary, rainy Tuesday morning filming a Netflix series outside the Downtown Elora town hall, which had been cleverly transformed into an American locale complete with US Postal Service signs and American flags for the shoot.
The iconic Centre Wellington town hall was revamped to serve as the “Heritage Museum & Cultural Center” for the Netflix show “FUBAR,” which is currently filming its second season.
Despite the secrecy initially surrounding the project, with film crews setting up as early as last Friday under the guise of the code name “Oink,” it was later confirmed that this was indeed a scene for “FUBAR.”
The local community buzzed with excitement upon discovering that the Hollywood superstar was in town.
Rachel Bingham, owner of the Wreckless Eric burrito and coffee shop, mentioned the surge of excitement and the potential for Schwarzenegger to visit her establishment, given that her crew had catered to the film staff earlier that day.
Local business owners, while not expecting a significant boost in day-to-day business due to the filming, acknowledged the positive impact such events have on Elora’s hospitality sector.
Laura Demers, who owns Epiphany Apparel, noted that while the filming schedule is grueling and not likely to increase foot traffic in her stores directly, it remains a boon for the local economy.
Meanwhile, Hope Pentom highlighted the town’s growing familiarity with being a film location, recalling past projects with stars like Adam Sandler and mentions of Elora in other film productions.
This visit by Schwarzenegger not only underscores Elora’s appeal as a versatile filming destination but also brings a touch of Hollywood glamor to the quaint Canadian town, much to the delight of residents and visitors alike.