By now, fans of gripping crime dramas should be well aware of Harlan Coben. The author, best known for penning such works as “Fool Me Once,” “Caught” and “The Stranger,” has become synonymous with top-tier Netflix mini-series. His latest show, “I Will Find You,” premiered on Netflix in mid-June to an immediate flurry of positive reviews. Coben leads the series as executive producer, while stars including Sam Worthington, Milo Ventimiglia, Erin Richards and Britt Lower (of “Severance” fame) round out the main cast. The show follows a man who is wrongfully imprisoned for the murder of his own son, and a growing conspiracy that his son is actually alive and well, under the care of a cabal of mysterious kidnappers.
While the events of “I Will Find You” are quite harrowing, the backdrops and scenic views present throughout the show are quite pleasing. So, if you’re interested in checking out some filming locations for the heart-thumping series, sans child kidnapping plot, be sure to read ahead. We’ll offer some insight into the key production sites and provide a few tried and tested recommendations for restaurants, hotels and other exceptional amenities along the way.
Ontario Filming Locations
Key Scenes: Though the narrative of “I Will Find You” primarily takes place in East Coast U.S. cities like New York City and Boston, Massachusetts, the majority of shots were conducted in and around Toronto, Ontario. Urban locations across Kingston and Mississauga were used for street scenes, chase sequences and cityscape backdrops, while interiors were captured at places such as the now-decommissioned Kingston Penitentiary and the University of Toronto Mississauga.
Best Time to Visit: Though Toronto is a beautiful city year-round, most first-time visitors are advised to book their stay during the late spring or early summer. The months of May and June tend to have the mildest weather, allowing for premier access to public gatherings, outdoor festivals and waterfront excursions along Lake Ontario. The winters can be quite frigid in the area, so be sure to bundle up if you do arrive after Labor Day.
Transportation Options: Though you may need a rental car to see every “I Will Find You” filming location, you can easily rely on Toronto’s public transit system while you’re staying in town. Buses, trains, cabs and streetcars can be found on most corners, providing easy access to major cultural epicenters and known tourist destinations.
Thanks to a production breakdown from Netflix In Your Neighbourhood, we can confirm that Brantford, Toronto, Mississauga and Kingston all serve as key filming sites. Eagle-eyed viewers will certainly note specific Ontario locales in the background of various episodes, especially if the Heartland Province is your lifelong home.
Each of these four Ontario cities are spread fairly evenly across the Canada/New York border, and can be visited with a single drive of roughly 4-5 hours all the way across. If you’re planning a visit yourself, your best bet will be to snag a hotel reservation in the 6ix, and venture out of Toronto on an as-needed basis. That will give you the most centralized access to outdoor events and tourist excursions while you’re not busy following David Burroughs’ footsteps and fending off the feds.
Things to Do: Depending on your needs, you’ll find harbor cruises, bus tours, bike tours and walking adventures guided by locals with a wealth of insider knowledge. Once you’re familiar with the layout of Toronto, you can branch out with a day-trip to Niagara Falls, or a visit to one of the city’s many notable landmarks. The CN Tower is a must-see backdrop, especially if you get the chance to go inside and ascend to the top. Likewise, Toronto is home to the Hockey Hall of Fame and Toronto Distillery, making it an ideal city for sports fans to catch up, grab a drink, and enjoy a few games.
Where to Eat: One of the best parts about a visit to Toronto is the absolute wealth of delicious meals you’ll find downtown. The capital of Ontario is home to multiple Michelin-starred kitchens like Pai Northern Thai Kitchen and Madrina Bar Y Tapas. Other local favorites include Goodfellas Wood Oven Pizza, Black + Blue and the 360 Restaurant at the top of CN Tower. Even if you miss out on these trendy eateries, you should have no trouble finding high-quality street food, hole-in-the-wall diners and glowing recommendations from any number of locals.
Where to Stay: Much like trendy restaurants, Toronto, Ontario, is home to plenty of upscale hotels for your staying pleasure. When you’re not busy tracking down “I Will Find You” shooting locations, consider resting your weary head at the Omni King Edward Hotel, Victoria’s Mansion Guest House or the InterContinental Toronto. If money is tight, and you’d rather tighten the belt on your stay so you can spend more on adventures, be sure to check out some of the many chain hotels in the area, which can be exceptionally cheap compared to a stay in New York City, for example.
New York Filming Locations
Key Scenes: Though the majority of “I Will Find You” was shot in Ontario, a few specific sequences were captured just over the border in the Big Apple. The climactic scene where David escapes from prison, for instance, sees him emerge into the hustle and bustle of Times Square, surrounded by pedestrians and passersby, portrayed by real-life New Yorkers.
Best Time to Visit: Much like Toronto, Ontario, New York City is known to dip into sub-zero temperatures in the wintertime. For first-time visitors, it’s best to book your trip during mid-spring. NYC becomes blanketed in a thick layer of humidity during the dog days of summer, so you’ll probably want to explore the region during April or May. That time of year should give you access to plenty of outdoor events, sparser crowds and exciting opportunities around every corner.
Transportation Options: If you plan to visit the key filming locations for “I Will Find You” in New York, you shouldn’t have any difficulty getting around. Times Square, Central Park, and Washington Square Park are centrally located landmarks that can be easily accessed via NYC’s comprehensive public transportation grid. Buses, trains and taxi cabs can be found all across the five boroughs, giving you access to these production sites, as well as a variety of fun adventures spread out all over the city.
While discussing the logistics of the Times Square scene with USA Today, showrunner Robert Hull recalled hearing someone saying, “These extras look so real.” With a slight chuckle, he explained, “They’re just real. They’re not extras… We wanted to put [David] in the most crowded cacophony of sounds and sight, and it’s a real testament to [Sam Worthington’s] performance.”
Central Park and Washington Square Park also stood in for a few outdoor scenes, as any keen-eyed New Yorker would be quick to point out. These scenes are primarily employed in the first several episodes of the series, as Rachel helps David escape from the feds once he’s busted out of prison.
As a native to the region, New Jersey-born Harlan Coben was more than happy to shoot in his own neck of the woods for once. Coben commented on this refreshing change of pace during a recent interview with Netflix’s Tudum. After having shot so many of his other Netflix collaborations overseas in Europe, Coben explained, “Netflix has been an amazing creative partner all over the globe — and now we get to come home and do it here in the United States.”
Things to Do: As you likely know, New York City is a thriving cultural hub that’s absolutely buzzing with activity. Must-see landmarks include the Statue of Liberty, the Ground Zero 9/11 memorial, the aforementioned Central Park, and the natural wonders of the Bronx Zoo. Broadway shows are available year-round for fans of theater, while museums, including the Solomon R. Guggenheim and the Cooper Hewitt offer a deep and insightful rabbit hole into modern and interactive art pieces. Even if you go in with no itinerary at all, you’ll surely encounter a few street performers, find plenty of opportunities to shop and experience plenty of “only in New York” moments. Just remember to have a getaway driver on hand if your goal is to escape from the Big Apple after busting out of your jail cell.
Where to Eat: If you do manage to stick close to Times Square, where portions of “I Will Find You” were captured, you’ll have your fair share of restaurants and street vendors to choose from. Kelly’s Sports Bar and the Times Square Diner make for perfect quick eats, while more upscale sit-down joints include Junior’s Restaurant & Cheesecake, SuteiShi and Carmine’s Time Square. While each of these establishments have been vetted by locals and tourists alike, don’t sleep on the hole-in-the-wall diners as you walk through the streets of NYC. As long as you’re not as disoriented as David, emerging from his prison cell, you should have no difficulty crafting your own unique experience.
Where to Stay: Taking a trip to New York can be quite expensive, and booking a hotel right in Times Square can drive prices up fast. Still, if you’re looking to stay close to the action, and you don’t mind spending exorbitant rates for a ritzy hotel, be sure to check out The Gallivant Times Square, New York Marriott Marquis or the InterContinental New York Times Square. Needless to say, you could save some serious cash by booking a hotel further out from the epicenter of dazzling digital billboards and taking the train or a taxi into the area. The five boroughs are loaded with hotels to match every price point, so it’s worth shopping around for a bit to make sure you get a good rate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “I Will Find You” based on a true story?
Though “I Will Find You” is quite a gripping tale, it is not based on a true story. Instead, it’s a work of fiction that likely draws inspiration from real stories of fathers who will go to the ends of the earth for their children. Harlan Coben has written many fiction stories and has thoroughly explored themes of fatherhood and familial love throughout his works.
Will there be a season two of “I Will Find You”?
As of now, it looks like “I Will Find You” will not receive a second season. The eight-episode miniseries has successfully adapted the entire Harlan Coben story it’s based on, leaving no additional adventures from the source material. Of course, if enough fans flock to the show, it’s not completely out of the question for Netflix to ask Coben to write more, so only time will tell.
