Amazon Prime film scheduled to begin shooting in the Wilmington area this spring

It's been a slow start to the film and TV production season in the Wilmington area in 2024, with no projects shooting so far and just one, Amazon's third season of "The Summer I Turned Pretty," in pre-production.

That should change by April, however, with at least one other production set to begin shooting by then. Details are scant, but according to entertainment website The Cinemaholic, a film titled "Merv" will begin shooting here in April for Amazon's Prime Video — which, as it happens, also produces "The Summer I Turned Pretty."

According to the film's description on its IMDb page, "Merv" is about a "recently separated couple" who end up rekindling their romance after taking the dog they share "on a holiday trip to cheer him up."

According to the film's IMDb page, "Merv" will star the actress Zooey Deschanel, best-known for the TV series "New Girl" and such movies as "ElF" and "500 Days of Summer."

The film is being directed by British playwright and film/TV director Jessica Swale, whose 2013 play "Blue Stockings" was produced last year by Cape Fear Community College's drama department and is up for three awards at the Wilmington Theater Awards March 20 at Thalian Hall, including Outstanding Play.

On her Instagram page Tuesday, Swale posted, "Very hard leaving home but excited for this adventure. Off to #losangeles, then shoot in #northcarolina, #wilmington in case anyone has any local tips, then to #nyc for the edit."

Swale previously directed the Lionsgate WWII romance "Summerland," and two episodes of the Prime Video comedy series "Ten Percent."

"Merv" was written by Dane Clark (Canadian comedy series "Mr. D") and Linsey Stewart (with Clark, 2023 film comedy "Suze").

It's being produced by LightWorkers Media, an Emmy-nominated Christian production company owned by Amazon MGM Studios that did "The Bible" on the History Channel, and Matt Baer Films, best known for Liongate's 2015 zombie movie "Maggie" starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Amazon Prime film 'Merv' to shoot in Wilmington, Jessica Swale directs