Fresh Films Wraps Filming on New 'Dearly Departed' Ghost Series in Rock Island

Fresh Films has completed filming on a new ghost-themed streaming series in Rock Island, Illinois, according to a report from WVIK, Quad Cities NPR. The production, titled "Dearly Departed," is a co-production with Rock Media.

Key scenes were filmed at First Lutheran Church in Rock Island and at Augustana College. The project marks the second consecutive summer Fresh Films has produced a project in the Quad Cities area.

What is 'Dearly Departed' about?

The series follows a teenage girl named Nyah who unearths a human skull in the woods and awakens the ability to see and speak with the dead. The first spirit she encounters is Jason, a teenage boy unaware of his own death. As more ghosts discover her gift, Nyah is drawn into solving their unresolved mysteries while navigating her own life.

Kelli Feigley, managing director of Fresh Films, explained the supernatural rules of the show. "But because she can see ghosts— and this is part of ghost lore— once the ghosts know that she's there, they all start coming for her," Feigley told WVIK. "Within 10 or 15 minutes, you're meeting another ghost and another ghost."

When and where will it be released?

The six-episode series is planned for a release this fall on the free streaming service Tubi and on YouTube. A separate release in late 2026 is also planned in partnership with the YouTube channel Rock Squad, which has approximately five million subscribers and focuses on teen and ghost-themed content.

The project has a long history. Fresh Films originally filmed a pilot eight years ago in Chicago. It was later optioned by Imagine Entertainment, Ron Howard's company, before being returned when that division closed. Director Estlin Feigley subsequently restructured the concept into a six-episode series designed for a more modest budget.

Who is starring in the series?

This marks Knightly's first project with Fresh Films but her fifth production with Rock Squad. "What I enjoy most about this project, I definitely do like my character. I like how there's lots of lines," Knightly said during filming. "I like to challenge myself."

The production also featured several local actors, including Augustana College theater professor Jeff Coussens. In addition to the professional cast and crew, over 70 student filmmakers from the Quad Cities and across the United States participated in the production, gaining hands-on experience.

Feigley highlighted the collaborative nature of the shoot and its use of local resources. "It's a big beautiful house," she said of the First Lutheran Parish House, which served as a primary filming location with multiple rooms set-decorated for different scenes. Fresh Films paid a location fee to use the space.