Delaware

What movies & TV shows were made in Delaware?

Published

8 months 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

Man in custody after reported threat near Kroger in Delaware County

Published

6 hours ago

December 10, 2025

Press Room

Man in custody after reported threat near Kroger in Delaware County

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Reports of a potential threat near a Kroger store on Route 23 by Walmart shopping center in Delaware County quickly spread on social media Tuesday evening, with residents posting about an active shooter and sharing updates on neighborhood pages. Many in the community expressed fear and concern as the posts circulated.

Delaware City Police confirmed the suspect, who had made threats to harm himself, is now in custody. Police Chief Adam Moore told ABC 6 that there was no shooting, and the situation was safely contained. Patrons at nearby stores were temporarily asked to shelter in place as a precaution.

Officials say the area is now safe, and residents are being urged to rely on verified information from authorities.

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Delaware

Sussex gets grant to fund Route 9 trail crossing feasibility study

Published

19 hours ago

December 9, 2025

Press Room

Sussex gets grant to fund Route 9 trail crossing feasibility study

The Delaware Bicycle Council approved a $35,000 grant Dec. 3, to Sussex County to help fund a feasibility study for a Route 9 tunnel crossing near Cool Spring Road to improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians.

Council members present at the meeting voted 12-0 to give 2025 Cycling Infrastructure Innovation grants of $35,000 to Sussex County and $15,000 to Newark.

Sussex County would use its allocation toward a study of a potential tunnel for the Lewes to Georgetown Trail, County Administrator Todd Lawson said Dec. 4.

“This is just for us to study whether the feasibility of putting a tunnel in that location works,” Lawson said. “We view this as a kick-start of an idea we are looking into.”

Sussex County Council will have to approve the balance of the study’s estimated $45,000 cost, he said.

The trail connects to Lewes, and the state is in the process of extending it the rest of the way to Georgetown.

“The biking community and users of the Georgetown to Lewes Trail have contacted Sussex County for an improved crossing at this location,” said John Fiori, the Delaware Department of Transportation bicycle coordinator who assists the council.

Currently, the only crossing of Route 9 for the trail is at the signalized intersection of Route 9/Fisher Road/Hudson Road, which was constructed by DelDOT, Fiori said.

But safety of the crossing is a growing concern as traffic on Route 9 has been increasing, with housing and commercial developments in the area and more planned.

A developer has proposed building 1,922 houses and 450,975 square feet of commercial space between Hudson and Cool Spring roads. Safety of the Route 9 crossing west of Lewes was discussed briefly at a Nov. 2 public hearing on that development project, which is located near the Route 9 trail crossing.

A Route 9 crossing project was championed for a couple of years by Walter Bryan, a bicycle council member who died in April.

Several alternatives for a crossing have been discussed over the years, including a bridge spanning Route 9.

The idea of a bridge was dropped for several reasons, including the angle of the crossing would require a very long span and there are high-voltage power lines running along the highway.

If the feasibility study supports the project, the county would have to convince the state and federal governments to fund and build a tunnel, Lawson said.

Sussex County Land Trust would also be involved in the project, he said. The group owns the Stephen P. Hudson Park near the potential Route 9 crossing site. It includes a trailhead parking lot.

The bicycle council’s five-member working group met with eight applicants as it worked to determine how to divide the $50,000 that is available, Fiori said.

Applications were ranked based on five categories: proximity to other bicycle routes or public facilities such as a community center, post office, library, school or park; creating a link between compatible facilities; eliminating hazards; inclusion in a master plan; and ability to complete the project.

Lawson said the Lewes-to-Georgetown Trail is exceeding all expectations, making an improved crossing an important project. The anticipated completion of the trail will bring many more users, but also increased need for a safe crossing, he said.

“People are going to be very attracted to that,” Lawson said. “It will exceed all expectations.”

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Delaware

Legal battle begins over Delaware’s medical aid in dying law

Published

1 day ago

December 9, 2025

Press Room

Legal battle begins over Delaware’s medical aid in dying law

A coalition of patient and disability advocacy organizations filed a federal lawsuit challenging Delaware’s medical aid in dying law on Dec. 8 − weeks before it’s slated to go into effect at the start of 2026.

The plaintiffs – including the Freedom Center for Independent Living, Inc., in Middletown and Delaware’s ADAPT chapter – are asking Delaware’s U.S. District Court to declare the law unconstitutional and permanently “block” the state’s enforcement, according to court documents and a press release issued Monday, Dec. 8.

Signed into law this past May, the Ron Silverio/Heather Block End of Life Options Law allows terminally ill patients who have six months or fewer to live the choice to request and receive medication that will “end the individual’s life in a humane and dignified manner,” according to the law’s text.

As written, individuals are unable to qualify for these life-ending medication due to age or disability.

Defendants named in the lawsuit include Gov. Matt Meyer, Delaware’s Department of Health and Social Services and Health Department Secretary Christen Linke Young. The governor’s office declined to comment, citing the ongoing litigation.

Supporters have argued having this end-of-life option provides those experiencing terminal illness control and autonomy. But opponents, specifically these plaintiffs, say the law not only violates several state and federal statutes but could still ultimately “single out” residents with disabilities and other vulnerable communities and put them at risk for untimely death as opposed to ensuring connection to necessary care.

“The act devalues people like me,” said plaintiff Sean Curran, a Delaware resident who experienced a serious spinal cord injury over three decades ago and is quadriplegic, in a written statement. “I have led a full life despite my disability. The act tells people like me that they should qualify for suicide help, not suicide prevention.”

Matt Vallière, who serves as president and executive director of the nonprofit Institute for Patients’ Rights, similarly said this law would implement “a separate and unequal system” for individuals with disabilities.

“Our lawsuit is asking the courts to stop this practice so Delaware patients with disabilities won’t be funneled through bias, barriers to care and inequal access to a death-too-soon,” Vallière said in a statement.

“With looming Medicaid cuts and high insurance premiums, as well as Medicare which does not provide community or community-based services, it already feels like our health care system is divided into providing for the haves and neglecting the have nots,” said Daniese McMullin-Powell, a representative of Delaware ADAPT, in the lawsuit. “We do not need exacerbate its brokenness by adding an element where some patients are steered toward suicide.”

The longtime legislative effort was signed by Meyer earlier this spring, having previously vocalized his support for enacting this bill into law. As of now, the law is scheduled to go into effect either when final regulations are finalized and published or on Jan. 1, 2026, whichever happens first.

As of now, the state Health Department is in the process of drafting these regulations, which are expected in the coming weeks.

Olivia Montes covers state government and community impact for Delaware Online/The News Journal. If you have a tip or a story idea, reach out to her at omontes@delawareonline.com.

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