Lili Reinhart feels 'like a prisoner' filming 'Riverdale' in Canada

Hollywood is beginning to open back up following the massive closure in March that rocked the industry. TV shows like Grey’s Anatomy and The Conners have announce their revised production start dates, and in Hollywood north, cast and crews are also returning to work on sets that look much different from those they left behind. More masks and sanitizing stations, less hanging out at craft services. The cast of Riverdale are heading back to Vancouver to begin shooting the drama’s fifth season, but for the show’s American stars, like Lili Reinhart, the ongoing border closure between the U.S. and Canada adds an extra layer of stress to her job.Reinhart spoke to Nylon about the reality of returning to Riverdale during the ongoing pandemic and dealing with her mental health while in quarantine. When filming on Riverdale’s fourth season came to an abrupt halt last spring, the show was in the middle of a prom-themed episode. The cast and crew will complete the episode before starting production on season five. “I have to fit back in that prom dress. Five months later, we're all going to be tan, maybe a little bit thicker. I certainly am,” said Reinhart.Once the actor returns to Canada, Reinhart will be required to isolate and remain in Vancouver until Christmas. “I genuinely feel like a prisoner, going back to work, because I cannot leave Canada. That doesn't feel good. You can't go home for Thanksgiving, can't visit your family,” said Reinhart, who currently lives in Los Angeles. “No one can come visit you unless they quarantine for two weeks. It just feels f****d.”

 

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Introducing NYLON’s September 2020 cover star, #LiliReinhart ✨ The #Riverdale actress talks therapy, social media, loving herself, and more – link in bio for her full interview with @mccarthylauren. ? @lilireinhart Photographer: @drewescriva Stylist: @shionat Hair: @davestanwell Makeup: @storyofmailife Set Designer: @kfond Art Director: @ehover Fashion Director: @tiffanyreid VP of Creative: @karen.hibbert Bookings: @specialprojectsmedia

A post shared by NYLON (@nylonmag) on Sep 2, 2020 at 6:08am PDT

The actor, who split with boyfriend and Riverdale co-star Cole Sprouse in March, said that COVID has taken a toll on her mental health. Reinhart, who has suffered from depression since childhood, has been active in finding healthy and constructive forms of therapy even while in quarantine.“At the beginning of this pandemic, I felt very lost,” said Reinhart, who has been doing virtual therapy through Whatsapp. “I felt very sad and hopeless, because of personal things that were happening in my life. Instead of distracting myself, f***ing random people and doing drugs and drinking my problems away, I chose the harder route, which was to not distract myself. I was like, ‘I'm not doing that. I'm going to go through the next however many months of shit, pure shit, awful, crying every day, but the necessary work.’”[video_embed id='-1']NOW TRENDING: 4-year-old son helps mom learn to walk again in touching video[/video_embed]Reinhart also took her first solo vacation this summer and visited a frequency healer in Mount Shasta, where she learned how to meditate and form deeper connections to herself and those around her. “I’ve seen too many people, especially in Hollywood, choose self-destruction,” said Reinhart. “I understand it because no one wants to feel pain. No one wants to feel grief, or heartache, or sadness. 'Do I want to grieve, or do I want to sleep with someone?' Hmm. You can very clearly see why people choose destruction. But your shit's still waiting for you at the end of it.”Reinhart will be taking her new tools and coping mechanisms with her to Canada, where her co-stars have already begun arriving. Skeet Ulrich, who announced in February that he was leaving the series because he was ‘bored creatively,’ has returned to film the final scenes for his character, FP Jones. Fellow Riverdale parent Marisol Nichols will also be leaving the show after the completion of season four.

 

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Not sure if I’m looking forward to quarantine or not ? 14 days before filming Riverdale ?

A post shared by Skeet Ulrich (@skeetulrich) on Sep 2, 2020 at 11:08am PDT

Riverdale creator and writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa also shared an image announcing the first table read for season five, which includes the first two episodes of the season. In a cartoon honouring the show’s comic book origins, Aguirre-Sacasa revealed ‘Climax’ and ‘The Preppy Murders’ as the title of first two episodes, which are numbered Chapters 77 and 78. “Even on Zoom and in quarantine, so grateful to be able to continue telling these stories with this incredible group of people. Back to the Town with Pep we go,” wrote Aguirre-Sacasa.

 

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Today’s a double-feature! The first two tablereads of #Riverdale Season Five! Even on Zoom and in quarantine, so grateful to be able to continue telling these stories with this incredible group of people. Back to the Town with Pep we go!! ❤️??????????????☎️???☠️??‍?

A post shared by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (@writerras) on Sep 2, 2020 at 10:38am PDT

New episodes of Riverdale will premiere sometime in 2021 and feature a time hop that moves the show’s teen characters into their college years.[video_embed id='-1']Before you go: Dog ecstatic to see her old friend after weeks of isolation[/video_embed]