Delaware

What movies & TV shows were made in Delaware?

Published

1 month ago

April 4, 2025

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What movies & TV shows were made in Delaware?

Delaware may be small but it is home to many things, including Hollywood movies and TV shows over the years.

Here’s a look at Hollywood actors who’ve appeared in films and TV shows filmed or set in the Small Wonder, across all three counties.

‘Jason’s Letter’: Vivica A. Fox, Dover (2017)

An actor and former girlfriend of rapper 50 Cent starred in a 2017 film shot in Dover. Vivica A. Fox, of “Kill Bill” fame, showcased her acting talents in “Jason’s Letter,” a film where some scenes were shot in City Hall. Delaware Online/The News Journal reported in 2017 that director Terrance Tykeem said a friend recommended he shoot in Dover because it had the perfect location for a city hall, which proved to be true after Tykeem scouted the location.

“Jason’s Letter” is about a 12-year-old Black boy named Jason McKey, whose Black schoolmate is shot by white cops. After realizing that marching and protests can’t change what feels like a national crisis, the young boy reaches out to his uncle, who is best friends with the city manager, to see if he can help him deliver a letter to the city council.

‘Broadway Brawler’: Bruce Willis, Wilmington (1997)

At the height of his Hollywood fame, actor Bruce Willis traveled to Wilmington to work on the ambitious film the “Broadway Brawler” in 1997. The $28 million, big-budget romantic comedy about a washed-up professional hockey player who finds love as his career fades was supposed to be the next “Jerry Maguire,” the hit 1996 Tom Cruise sports rom-com.

For the “Broadway Brawler,” Wilmington wouldn’t be Wilmington ‒ it would sub as Queens, New York ‒ much of the action would be shot in the city’s Hedgeville neighborhood and other areas.

But Willis’ dream of filming in Delaware became a nightmare and the project never saw the light of day. News Journal reporter Patricia Talorico details the drama in a mind-boggling backstory about a Delaware movie that a number of First State residents still haven’t even heard of, nearly 30 years later.

‘Little Demon’: Aubrey Plaza, Danny DeVito, Middletown (2022)

Wilmington native Aubrey Plaza is a character. But she raised the bar in the FX cartoon series “Little Demon” (2022). In this dark comedy, Plaza plays Laura, mom to her Antichrist daughter Chrissy, played by Lucy DeVito. The family relocates to Delaware to try to live a normal life, but Laura’s ex (Satan, played by Danny DeVito) finds them in the Small Wonder. In the first episode alone, there are several nods to Delaware, like Chrissy entering her new school, the fictitious Middletown Junior High School, which says the following under the school sign: “Est. 1795. We’re not racist anymore!”

She also goes with a friend to a party at “the abandoned Taco Chateau on Concord Pike” before showing a Delaware license plate on her car. (It was blue-and-gold and not a prized low-digit black-and-white plate.) The edgy cartoon generated lots of controversy – mostly for its Satanic theme – and lasted only one season.

‘Steven Universe’: Rehoboth Beach (2013-19)

Rehoboth’s reputation as a beach destination earned it a spot in the popular Cartoon Network show “Steven Universe,” which aired from 2013-2019. The show is created by Rebecca Sugar, a native of Silver Spring, Maryland, and the series follows the adventures of the title character who is joining the Crystal Gems, a group that protects humanity. In a 2018 interview with The News Journal, the show creator reminisced about having “lots of memories of the boardwalk” from Rehoboth. “There was a beach house we used to stay at that belongs to our neighbor’s family, which Steven’s house in the show is based on,” Sugar said in an email interview from Cartoon Network’s California offices. The main character Steven is named after Sugar’s brother, who also did background art for the show.

‘Failure to Launch’: Matthew McConaughey, Sarah Jessica Parker, Cape Henlopen (2006)

Even before the Great Recession in 2008, it was hard for some parents to get their children to leave the nest. This was evidenced in the 2006 romantic comedy “Failure to Launch,” starring Matthew McConaughey and Sarah Jessica Parker (Paula). The movie tells the story of a 35-year-old bachelor whose parents (played by Kathy Bates and NFL legend Terry Bradshaw) hire an interventionist to get him to move out of their home. Some scenes from the flick were shot at Cape Henlopen State Park.

‘The Roost’: Ti West, Wilmington & Rehoboth Beach (2011)

More than a decade before Wilmington horror director Ti West’s “MaXXXine” released in 2024 with a glamorous cast that included Giancarlo Esposito, Halsey, Kevin Bacon, and Mia Goth – he worked on a smaller project partially filmed in Delaware. The 2011 film is an eerie one called “The Roost,” shot in Rehoboth Beach, Wilmington and Kennett Square, according to IMDB. The horror film is about friends heading to a Halloween wedding who get in a car accident in the middle of nowhere and wind up at a strange farm.

‘Beloved’: Oprah Winfrey, Danny Glover, New Castle County (1998)

This 1998 film starring the “Giveaway Queen” Oprah Winfrey (Sethe) and Danny Glover (Paul Garner) leaned on New Castle County to shoot some of the project.

“Beloved” follows Winfrey’s character, who is haunted by her past as a slave. She and her daughter are tormented by a ghost until her longtime friend, played by Glover, drives it away. But more drama continues after a woman named Beloved appears. The film was nominated for six NAACP Image Awards, including one for Winfrey. Glover won the film’s only Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Motion Picture.

‘Mayor Cupcake’: Lea Thompson; Bridgeville, Dewey Beach, Rehoboth (2011)

Mary Maroni (Lea Thompson) is a mom, wife, and the best cupcake baker in town. After her daughter secretly nominates her for mayor, and she shockingly wins, the master baker is forced to discover if she has the right ingredients to create meaningful change in political office in the comedy “Mayor Cupcake” (2011). The film was shot in the Delaware locations Bridgeville, Dewey Beach and Rehoboth Beach.

‘The Village’: Joaquin Phoenix, Centreville (2004)

Director M. Night Shyamalan was one of the hottest directors in the late ’90s and early 2000s after delivering a string of hits like “The Sixth Sense,” “Unbreakable” and “Signs.” The film “Signs” featured a 20-something Joaquin Phoenix, almost two decades before he starred as Batman’s nemesis in “Joker.”

Shyamalan once again recruited Phoenix for his 2004 suspense thriller “The Village,” which spotlights an evil force that dwells in a forbidden forest. The Philly director filmed scenes close to home in places like the City of Brotherly Love; Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, and Delaware’s Centreville.

‘Fight Club’: Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, Wilmington area (1999)

It’s true the first rule of “Fight Club” is you can’t talk about “Fight Club.” Too bad Brad Pitt never said we couldn’t write about it (hehe). This legendary flick is based on Wilmington and explores an underground club for bareknuckle brawls.

The movie, inspired by the 1996 book of the same name by author Chuck Palahniuk, also features Edward Norton, Helena Bonham Carter and Meat Loaf. While Wilmington is never named in the film, Wilmingtonians can spot the references with ease. This includes a business card for Pitt’s character (Tyler Durden) that lists the address for his soap company as 537 Paper St. with the ZIP code of 19808 — a Wilmington-area ZIP code.

In a 2000 interview with Delaware Online/The News Journal, Palahniuk said it was the idea of director David Fincher and scriptwriter Jim Uhls to set the film in Wilmington because of its deep ties to the credit card industry. The movie ends with the bombing of credit card companies – something Wilmington has a bunch of.

‘Dish & The Spoon’: Greta Gerwig, Dover and Sussex County (2011)

Rose (Greta Gerwig) moves to Delaware after her husband cheats in the romantic comedy “The Dish & The Spoon” (2011). The breakout director behind the summer’s billion-dollar-grossing “Barbie” film can be spotted years ago in “The Dish & The Spoon” scenes filmed in Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, Broadkill Beach and Dewey Beach, along with Milton, Milford and Dover.

‘Clean and Sober’: Michael Keaton, Morgan Freeman, Claymont (1988)

In the history of actors cast as Batman, many fans rank Michael Keaton as the best. He shined in Tim Burton’s classics “Batman” with Jack Nicholson in 1989, followed by “Batman Returns” with Michelle Pfeiffer and Danny DeVito in 1992.

But right before he became Gotham City’s protector, Keaton played a hotshot real estate guru with a cocaine habit in “Clean and Sober” (1988). His character eventually checks into a rehab clinic and receives help from a counselor played by Morgan Freeman. Since the real estate agent lives in Philly, it shouldn’t be a surprise that one of the locations in “Clean and Sober” was shot in Claymont about 30 minutes away.

‘Goosebumps’: Jack Black, set in Delaware (2015)

Many ’90s kids and their parents remember the horror novel series for kids titled “Goosebumps.” Author R.L. Stine’s nostalgic series inspired the 2015 film title of the same. It starred Jack Black as the beloved author Stine and featured monsters from the writer’s imagination escaping into the fictional town of Madison, Delaware.

‘The Pretender’: Michael Weiss, set in Delaware (1996-2000)

A human chameleon is on the loose. His name is Jarod (Michael T. Weiss) and he’s a “Pretender” or a genius who is so smart he’s able to assume multiple identities such as a pilot, lawyer or doctor.

When Jarod was young, a corporation named The Centre wanted to use him for his genius ability. The Centre is in the fictitious Blue Cove, Delaware. That makes sense because the First State is the incorporation capital of the world. “The Pretender” (1996-2000) is streaming on Amazon Prime.

‘Dead Poets Society’: Robin Williams, Middletown, Wilmington, Historic New Castle (1989)

Last year marked the 35th anniversary of the cult classic film “Dead Poets Society,” filmed in Delaware and starring Robin Williams in one of his first serious roles. The 1989 movie landed Williams an Academy Award nomination for his performance as a teacher who motivates prep school students through the writings of Walt Whitman and other “dead poets.”

“Dead Poets Society” was filmed in the Middletown area at St. Andrew’s School and the Everett Theatre. Other Delaware locations include Wilmington and Historic New Castle.

Sources for this article include IMDB and Filmpedia.

News Journal reporters Ryan Cormier and Patricia Talorico contributed to this report.

If you have an interesting story idea, email lifestyle reporter Andre Lamar at alamar@gannett.com. Consider signing up for his weekly newsletter, DO Delaware, at delawareonline.com/newsletters.

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Delaware

Four Injured in Delaware County Collision – Mix 94.7 KMCH

Published

2 hours ago

May 12, 2025

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Four Injured in Delaware County Collision – Mix 94.7 KMCH

Four people were injured in a crash in Delaware County on Monday morning.

It happened north of Manchester at 180th Avenue and 150th Street around 7:45 am. The Iowa State Patrol says a northbound Chevy Equinox driven by 60-year old Michael Seehusen of Anamosa failed to yield from a stop sign and struck a Ford Explorer that was traveling east. The Ford Explorer, driven by 45-year old Kristina Moss of Greeley, rolled and entered the north ditch.

The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, Edgewood Fire and EMS and RMC Ambulance also responded to the accident.

The Iowa State Patrol says Moss, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was injured and transported to Regional Medical Center in Manchester. Her 12-year old passenger was also transported to RMC.

Seehusen and another person, 63-year old Guy Devries of East Dubuque, were injured but not taken to the hospital.

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Delaware

Del. lawmakers look to expand Medicare supplement enrollment period for seniors

Published

19 hours ago

May 12, 2025

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Del. lawmakers look to expand Medicare supplement enrollment period for seniors

Delaware lawmakers look at creating a special enrollment period for those on a Medicare supplement policy looking to switch to another.

State Sen. Ray Seigfried (D-North Brandywine) introduces legislation that would make Delaware the 11th state to create a special open enrollment period for Medicare supplement policy holders 30 days before their birthday and 30 days after.

The new “birthday rule” would allow Medigap — Medicare supplement insurance sold by private insurance companies to help fill gaps in Original Medicare coverage — policyholders to switch to plans with equal or lesser benefits without the need to go through medical underwriting, a process where insurance companies examine an individual’s health risk, which Seigfried believes can be discriminatory.

“This rule can be beneficial for many Medigap beneficiaries, as it allows them to compare prices, coverage options, potentially find a more affordable plan,” Sen. Seigfried said.

It would also allow Medicare Advantage plan members, a plan that Delaware state retirees have argued requires stringent preauthorization requirements and provides insufficient benefits, to cancel their existing policy or enroll in Original Medicare with a supplemental plan following the underwriting process.

Representatives on behalf of America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) — a trade association that lobbies on behalf of various insurance companies — and Highmark Delaware oppose the bill, arguing it would lead to higher premiums for seniors and decreased Medigap enrollment as seen in some other states with similar policies.

But Delaware Department of Insurance Senior Policy Advisor Chris Haas argues the statistics cited by insurance stakeholders show correlation without causation.

“We did expose the draft legislation to insurance industry stakeholders and note that many of the responses we received were concerningly misleading and inaccurate. While as of yesterday about 10 states do offer these plans, they all offer them a little bit differently in different environments,” Haas said.

She says while a small impact on rates is possible, because various Medigap carrier shave been declining to write policies at all after a person’s eligibility period, she argues the change in rate is akin to turning something exclusive into something that’s publicly offered.

“In recent years, consumers have reported increased barriers to accessing Medigap policies, whether adding coverage to Original Medicare, changing their Medigap plans, or trying to switch from Medicare Advantage to Medigap during federal enrollment periods when this is permitted. Medigap carriers refusing to write policies in these scenarios has caused consumer harm. It is an impossibility in other environments,” Haas explained. “Imagine if you turn 65, selected an auto insurance plan and then essentially could never change your coverage because carriers would not write to you. That is essentially what Delawareans have experienced.”

The legislation would also require issuers to notify those who are eligible and enrolled in their Medicare supplement policies of the dates of the open enrollment period at least 30 days before it begins and of any modification to the benefits provided by the policy under which the person is currently insured.

The bill cleared committee with virtually no discussion and now awaits consideration by the full Senate.

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Delaware

Delaware Symphony Orchestra appoints Michelle Di Russo as first female director

Published

2 days ago

May 11, 2025

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Delaware Symphony Orchestra appoints Michelle Di Russo as first female director

From Philly and the Pa. suburbs to South Jersey and Delaware, what would you like WHYY News to cover? Let us know!

The Delaware Symphony Orchestra is beginning a new era in its 120th season with a historic first.

Michelle Di Russo has been named the orchestra’s new music director, following an international search that began in 2023. She is the first woman in the orchestra’s history to hold the role.

“Winning your first position as music director, as a conductor in general, it’s the most exciting thing,” Di Russo said. “It’s something you’ve been working towards for years, right? And for it to be a place like Delaware and with the Delaware Symphony and having been there, connected with the community and worked with the orchestra, I know it sounds too good to be true, but it is the perfect fit for me.”

Di Russo emerged as a standout among four finalists who appeared during the DSO’s 2024 and 2025 season. The orchestra’s musicians, board members, staff and community were all part of the decision-making process.

“Michelle Di Russo was the unanimous choice of both the search committee and our board,” said J.C. Barker, the orchestra’s chief executive officer, in a statement. “We are thrilled to welcome her as we look to a bold new chapter and beyond.”

Michelle Di Russo has made history as the first woman to be named music director of the Delaware Symphony Orchestra. (Courtesy of Michelle Di Russo)

The appointment is not just a personal milestone — it marks a breakthrough for representation in classical music in Delaware.

“I think it’s always exciting to be the first one to break those glass ceilings slowly,” Di Russo said. “It’s also exciting to know that the community and the musicians and the organization, everyone is ready for it as well. It just makes me feel very welcome and very excited to help them go into this new path.”

She began her career in the arts not as a conductor but as a performer. In her native Argentina, she worked in musical theater as a dancer and singer before a final exam unexpectedly steered her in a new direction.

“I really didn’t know that was my path,” she said. “But when I conducted the orchestra for the first time… there’s this energy. I don’t know, I just can’t describe it. It just really ignited passion in me and I just knew that that was the path I needed to take on.”

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