Several days of filming and preparations in Cobourg will help tell the story of Muhammad Ali starting Monday

Muhammad Ali street art by Nelson Ndongala. Free Use Domain, Upsplash.

By Cecilia Nasmith, Northumberland 89.7 FM News

Cobourg

Several days of filming and associated preparations will take place in Cobourg April 21 through 30, with wrap days on May 1 and 2.

Reunion MA Production Inc. will be filming for a new series The Greatest, a spin-off of the 1977 feature film depicting the life of boxing great Muhammad Ali.

The town's Community Services Division has shared a schedule and a list of locations impacted:

Monday, April, 21 through Friday, April 25 – Preparation of storefronts and windows will take place on King Street between Third and Hibernia

Monday, April 28, and Tuesday, April 29 – Filming will take place at a private residence on the east end, and preparations will take place at the James Cockburn Room in Victoria Hall

Wednesday, April 30 – Filming day from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Shooting will take place inside and outside the James Cockburn Room and along the previously prepared stretch of King Street (for the filming of a parade), which will be closed between Third Street and Hibernia.

Parking will be affected in different areas:

Monday, April 21, to Friday, May 2 – Albert Street lot

Sunday, April 27, to Wednesday, April 30 – Marina parking lot

Sunday, April 27, to Wednesday, April 30 – The Victoria Park campground

Wednesday, April 30 – On-street parking on both sides of King Street between Third and Hibernia

Cobourg residents will notice the American flag and bunting outside of Victoria Hall and on King Street the week of April 28, but their presence will be kept to the minimum required times.

The Town of Cobourg has a long history of working with international production companies. Council recognizes filming as an excellent source of revenue with very little resource costs.

Each production provides primary sources of revenue to the town through facility rentals and parking and filming permits. Secondary benefits to the town's economy come as productions use local resources, businesses and supplies.

Reunion MA Production Inc. Is working to maximize both Canadian involvement and local economic benefit through a number of avenues:

Approximately 200 paid Canadian background actors

A community casting call will be issued to invite local citizens to participate as unpaid walk-ons during the parade scene

Around 150 Canadian crew members will be involved, including food-service teams, directors and minor cast members

As well, all hotel accommodations are being booked locally, and the production team intends to support local businesses – restaurants, pubs and coffee shops – throughout their stay.

“Welcoming film productions to Cobourg plays a vital role in driving economic development and boosting tourism,” Mayor Lucas Cleveland commented in the announcement.

“Each production supports local businesses and showcases the unique charm of our town to audiences far and wide. It's an exciting way to strengthen our local economy while keeping Cobourg on the map as a premier filming destination.”