A new 9-1-1 franchise expands to Nashville, a biopic explores Billy Joel’s early career, and John Leguizamo stars alongside his daughter in an independent drama filmed in New Jersey.
9-1-1: Nashville (Season 2)
The 9-1-1 franchise continues its expansion with 9-1-1: Nashville, which is slated to begin production on June 22 in Nashville and nearby Franklin, Tennessee. Produced by Ryan Murphy Television and 20th Television for ABC, the action-drama centers on Captain Don Sharpe, a rugged fire captain and former rodeo rider who leads Nashville’s busiest firehouse while balancing family responsibilities and long-buried secrets.
The series is produced by Angela Bassett, Brad Falchuk and Alexis Martin Woodall, with Rashad Raisani serving as showrunner. Ryan Murphy and Tim Minear are credited as writers, while veteran cinematographer Tommy Lohmann will oversee the visual style of the production.
Nashville has become an increasingly attractive production destination thanks to its expanding crew base and state support for film and television projects, and the series is expected to make extensive use of the city’s distinctive neighborhoods and surrounding Middle Tennessee landscapes.
Billy & Me
A new music biopic chronicling the early years of legendary singer-songwriter Billy Joel is heading into production this fall. Billy & Me tells the story of Joel’s rise before the release of Piano Man, viewed through the perspective of his first manager, Irwin Mazur, who also serves as a producer on the project.
Directed by Academy Award-winning editor and filmmaker John Ottman from a screenplay by Adam Ripp, the feature is scheduled to begin filming in October with production split between New York City and Winnipeg, Manitoba.
The dual locations are expected to recreate both Joel’s formative New York music scene and period settings while taking advantage of Manitoba’s established production infrastructure and incentives. Casting is currently underway under the direction of veteran casting director Ferne Cassel.
Bullet Catch
Independent feature Bullet Catch is wrapping production after filming on Long Beach Island, New Jersey, and in Philadelphia. Written and directed by David Baram, the character-driven drama stars John Leguizamo as a once-successful attorney whose life has unraveled and who attempts to rebuild his relationship with his estranged daughter by reinventing himself as a stage magician performing the infamous “Bullet Catch” illusion.
Adding an extra layer of authenticity to the family story, Leguizamo stars opposite his real-life daughter, Allegra Leguizamo, who plays an up-and-coming comedian struggling to reconnect with her father. The supporting cast includes Jennifer Esposito, David Krumholtz and Bashir Salahuddin. Baram produces alongside Carolyn Levine, with John Leguizamo serving as executive producer.
Filming on Long Beach Island provided the production with a distinctive coastal backdrop rarely featured in independent dramas, while Philadelphia offered additional urban locations and access to the region’s experienced production workforce. The project continues the recent trend of independent filmmakers utilizing New Jersey’s competitive tax incentives and diverse locations to anchor character-focused storytelling.
