Stephen Amell
When it happened, when I got the positive test [for Covid-19], for me it became, “Holy f—! I just destroyed this show [Heels] because I’m No. 1 on the call sheet and I work every day, more or less…”– Stephen Amell on Inside of You.
Stephen Amell dropped the bomb on Michael Rosenbaun’s podcast Inside of You, recorded on October 20th.
Sat down with my buddy Rosey to talk about testing positive for COVID-19, being on the shelf for 3 weeks and the wonderful job everyone on my new show is doing during this absolute fucking dumpster fire of a year. https://t.co/u6GZISjm6x
— Stephen Amell (@StephenAmell) October 27, 2020
A crew member in Atlanta for the Starz wrestling drama tested positive for Covid-19 and then the following Monday, Amell himself tested positive.
I’m in my head going, “Shit! They’re going to have to shut down the production. We’re not yet done with the first block of two episodes. Did I just ruin this?” — Stephen Amell.
But he didn’t ruin it. Heels shut down for one day and crew shot around Amell’s character Jack Spade, the charismatic villain or heel, while Amell recovered.
What they were able to do is mind boggling, quite frankly, It just goes to show that they were prepared for it, but not everyone has the luxury of taking two weeks off. — Stephen Amell.
Recovery wasn’t easy though. Amell never ran a fever but for two nights he kept waking up every couple of hours vacillating between being freezing cold and boiling hot. He also lost his appetite, losing 15 pounds over the three weeks and suffered from dizziness approaching vertigo.
After three weeks of isolation, Amell returned to work on Heels last weekend.
So good to be back working away on Heels. We’ve got great leadership and a super fucking solid crew. Plus, short shorts. pic.twitter.com/PykuI9h7pK
— Stephen Amell (@StephenAmell) October 24, 2020
Monday’s with James. pic.twitter.com/G1qyL6Ol3o
— Stephen Amell (@StephenAmell) October 26, 2020
What is Heels?
Heels is about the men and women who chase their dreams in the world of small town pro wrestling. Set in a close-knit Georgia community, it follows a family-owned wrestling promotion as two brothers and rivals — one of them played by Amell — war over their late father’s legacy. In the ring, somebody must play the good guy and somebody must play their nemesis, the heel (Amell). But in the real world, those characters can be hard to live up to — or hard to leave behind.
Heels began filming in Atlanta after the September Labour Day weekend.
Cast: Stephen Amell, Alexander Ludwig, Mary McCormack, Chris Bauer, Kelli Berglund.
— Stephen Amell (@StephenAmell) August 24, 2020
Jack & Ace — pic.twitter.com/p5yqqNKB67
— Stephen Amell (@StephenAmell) September 1, 2020
Stephen Amell is Jack Spade, the charismatic villain, or heel, of the Duffy Wrestling Association (DWA). In the real world, he’s its hard-working owner, a husband and father trying to make ends meet while fighting to realize his impossible dreams. He has the mind of an artist in the body of a warrior, and a Steve Jobs-ian need for perfection — and for control. He says he’ll do whatever it takes to build the DWA into an empire. Will he go so far as to risk his marriage, or his relationship with his brother?
Alexander Ludwig is Ace Spade, the beloved hero and star of the DWA. Things are more difficult in the real world, where he struggles to reconcile his town idol status with his insecurities and demons. He’s brash, cocky and self-destructive — yet so damn charming and good-looking that you can almost forgive him. If he can keep it together, he’ll have a ticket out of Duffy and to the big time. But that’s a big if.
Mary McCormack is Willie, the business partner of Jack Spade and logistical brains behind the local wrestling organization who came up in the glory days as Wild Bill’s (Chris Bauer) valet but grew tired of babysitting and left him just as his career took off. His return to the local circuit complicates her life, as does the reflection of her younger self that she sees in Crystal (Kelli Berglund).
Showrunner: Mike O’Malley.
Producers: Julie Yorn, Chris Donnelly, Patrick Walmsley.
Stephen Amell, who filmed eight seasons of Arrow in Vancouver, returned to the city last summer with his family before heading down to Atlanta.
🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦 WE BACK!!! 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/tMGALe52Av
— Stephen Amell (@StephenAmell) July 26, 2020
Where he was spotted getting in shape for Heels.
@yvrshoots hey is Stephen Amell still living in Vancouver. Because I swear I nearly just had a heart attack on Burrard Street. Because I looked up after getting off the bus near the Burrard Bridge and I swear it was him jogging past me😳😳😳
— Ann-Marie | #weloveianbohen (@AnnieSl) August 4, 2020
Did he look like this? Not sure why he’s back but Stephen Amell is in the hood.https://t.co/v9ETKerY4z
— Hollywood North Buzz – YVRShoots (@yvrshoots) August 4, 2020
Before his bout with Covid, Amell’s worst experience in Atlanta was locking himself out of his new apartment.
I locked myself out of apartment yesterday with no mask, no shoes, no wallet and no phone. Two different locksmiths no showed. I walked to a Ben & Jerry’s after 6 hours and sheepishly called my wife for help. #CrushedSaturday
— Stephen Amell (@StephenAmell) August 30, 2020
Also… 6 different groups of people stopped and asked me if they could take a picture.
— Stephen Amell (@StephenAmell) August 30, 2020
A prescient shirt: This is the Worst Year I’ve Ever Lived In.
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