Half demons will be roaming the streets of Sudbury over the next six weeks as episodes are filmed for a science-fiction-comedy series called Dark Rising: Warrior of Worlds.

Dozens of people working on the series — including comedian Colin Mochrie and Scott Thompson of Kids in the Hall fame — took over a few streets in the downtown for the series' first shoot.

But there are mixed reviews from people about whether or not blocking traffic on a downtown street to accommodate the shoot is good for business.

The science-fiction comedy miniseries Dark Rising: Warrior of Worlds is being filmed in downtown Sudbury. It will also be filmed at Science North and at NORCAT's mine training site over the next few weeks. (Yvon Theriault/CBC)

As café-owner Bob Wygant watched an Aston Martin zip down Durham Street from the porch of his shop, Le Boulangerie du Village, he noted that his tables were full of customers and more people gathered in front of his door to watch the filming.

Wygant said his business benefits from the miniseries shoot, despite the road closure.

"We need anything that we can get to get people to come on down here and not only visit us but to understand what the potential is here over the course of the next few years,” he said.

Improve communications

But not everyone feels this way — including John Rutherford, owner of Black Cat, a convenience store just across the street from the Boulangerie.

"Most of our regular customers will avoid coming downtown when they see what's happening here,” he said.

Rutherford said he only found out on Monday that the street would be closed.

The Downtown Sudbury business association said it will try to improve communication with local businesses about future shoots, particularly as more movies and TV shows come to film in the city, said spokesperson Maureen Luoma.

"How can we make it smoother for everybody? For the film people themselves, for our members, for the customers coming downtown,” she said “How can we tweak any of those rough edges and just … make it better?”

The miniseries will be filmed at Science North and the NORCAT underground centre over the next few weeks.

The miniseries stars Charmed actor Brian Krause, Canadian comedian Nug Nahrgang and locally born-and-raised actress Brigitte Kingsley.