Netflix’s holiday movie Meet Me Next Christmas, directed by Rusty Cundieff, takes viewers on an adventure through New York City with Layla, played by Christina Milian. The story revolves around her efforts to find tickets for a sold-out Christmas Eve concert to meet her dream man. As Layla races against time to get the tickets, she finds herself caught up in festive streets, meeting new people, and discovering more about herself. Although the story is set in New York City, the movie was actually filmed in Toronto, Canada.
Where Was Meet Me Next Christmas Filmed?
The majority of the filming for Meet Me Next Christmas took place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The main filming happened from March 27, 2023, to May 1, 2023. Even though Toronto is used as a stand-in for New York City, the movie shows several iconic New York spots, such as the Brooklyn Bridge and the Empire State Building, to give a realistic feel.
Toronto, Ontario
Toronto has become a popular location for filmmakers who want to recreate New York City without the high costs and busy streets. For Meet Me Next Christmas, the team made use of Downtown Toronto’s Entertainment District, especially in areas that could easily resemble New York streets. The production team decorated the streets with artificial snow, bright Christmas lights, and holiday decorations to create a perfect winter atmosphere, even though the filming happened in spring.
One scene shows Layla meeting a man dressed as Santa Claus on the streets of Toronto. In the background, you can spot the Royal Alexandra Theatre, an iconic building located on 260 King Street West. The theatre’s exterior gives a great downtown vibe, fitting well with New York’s holiday look.
The Royal Alexandra Theatre
The Royal Alexandra Theatre, featured in Meet Me Next Christmas, has a long history. It is known as the oldest continuously operating theatre in North America. Although it was summertime during the shoot, Christina Milian, the lead actress, dressed in warm winter clothes to fit the holiday theme, and she even mentioned feeling chilly during the shoot, as if it were winter.
Creating the Interiors at Cinespace Studios Toronto
For indoor scenes, the production used Cinespace Studios in Toronto. Cinespace Studios is well-known for its advanced facilities and is often used for large film productions. The studio has three campuses across Toronto, with 29 soundstages in total, which cover over 1.4 million square feet. Netflix has leased four of these soundstages, specifically at the Cinespace Marine Terminal Studio, located at 8 Unwin Avenue. The large studio space allowed the team to create detailed New York-style interiors without needing to travel to the city.
The Marine Terminal Studio was originally a marine terminal before it was transformed into a modern studio facility. Each soundstage here covers over 25,000 square feet, offering plenty of space for big setups, which was perfect for creating the Christmas scenes of Meet Me Next Christmas.
Toronto is a popular city for film production, and Netflix has invested significantly in its studios here. In 2019, Netflix began leasing soundstages from Cinespace and other Toronto-based studios, showing its commitment to expanding production in Canada. Steve Mirkopoulos, the former CEO of Cinespace, welcomed Netflix, mentioning that this partnership was beneficial for Toronto’s economy and for creating more job opportunities.
The Cinespace Marine Terminal Studio has been used for various other popular productions as well, including Netflix’s Stranger Things, Resident Evil: Retribution, Pompeii, and Beauty & the Beast. This makes it a famous spot for filming big-budget productions, especially those needing detailed and unique setups.
In conclusion, while Meet Me Next Christmas takes viewers through the streets of New York during the holiday season, most of the filming was done in Toronto. With its beautiful streets and top-quality studios, Toronto was able to provide the perfect backdrop for Layla’s charming holiday adventure.
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Question (FAQs) – Meet Me Next Christmas
Q: Where Was Meet Me Next Christmas Filmed?
A: The holiday movie Meet Me Next Christmas was primarily filmed in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Q: When Was Meet Me Next Christmas Filmed?
A: Filming for Meet Me Next Christmas took place between March 27, 2023, and May 1, 2023.
Q: When Is Meet Me Next Christmas Releasing?
A: Meet Me Next Christmas was released on Netflix on November 6, 2024.
Q: Who Are the Main Cast Members in Meet Me Next Christmas?
A: The movie stars Christina Milian as Layla, a woman in search of a Christmas Eve concert ticket to meet her dream man. Other main cast members include Kofi Siriboe as James, who appears as Layla’s love interest, and Devale Ellis as Teddy, who helps Layla find her way to the concert.
Q: Is New York City Really Shown in the Movie?
A: While Meet Me Next Christmas uses some establishing shots of New York City’s iconic skyline, including the Brooklyn Bridge and Empire State Building, the majority of the film was shot in Toronto. By carefully selecting locations and adding holiday decorations, the filmmakers recreated New York’s festive atmosphere in Toronto’s Entertainment District and at Cinespace Studios.
