Hollywood loves to film in Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik, with its stunning architecture and coastal location, has become a popular filming location for Hollywood productions over the last few decades. Here are some of the most notable films and TV series that have been filmed in Dubrovnik:
“Game of Thrones” – This HBO series, which is based on the book series by George R. R. Martin, was partially filmed in Dubrovnik, with the city serving as the location for many of the show’s iconic scenes. Dubrovnik’s Old Town was used to depict King’s Landing, the capital city of the Seven Kingdoms, as well as the Red Keep, the seat of the Iron Throne. Many other locations in the city were also used, including the Lovrijenac Fortress, which was used as the exterior of the Red Keep.
“Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi” – This 2017 film was partially filmed in Dubrovnik, with the city serving as the location for the planet Canto Bight, a wealthy casino city. Several locations in Dubrovnik’s Old Town, including the Stradun (the main street), were used to depict the city.
“Robin Hood: Origins” – This 2018 action-adventure film was partly shot in Dubrovnik, with the city doubling as the medieval city of Nottingham. Dubrovnik’s Old Town was used extensively in the film, with many of the city’s streets and buildings being used as filming locations.
“Knightfall” – This History Channel series, which is set during the Crusades, was partially filmed in Dubrovnik, with the city serving as the backdrop for scenes set in medieval France. The city’s Old Town was used extensively in the series, with many of the streets and buildings being used as filming locations.
“The Borgias” – This Showtime series about the infamous Borgia family was partially filmed in Dubrovnik, with the city standing in for Renaissance-era Rome. Many of Dubrovnik’s streets and buildings were used as filming locations, including the Church of St. Ignatius and the Rector’s Palace.
“Doctor Who” – This long-running British sci-fi series filmed an episode in Dubrovnik in 2019. The episode, called “The Timeless Children,” featured scenes shot in Dubrovnik’s Old Town, as well as the nearby island of Lokrum.
“Fortitude” – This British thriller series filmed several scenes in Dubrovnik in 2016. The city’s Old Town was used as a location for the series, which is set in a fictional Arctic town.
“The Medici” – This Netflix series, which is set during the Italian Renaissance, filmed several scenes in Dubrovnik in 2018. The city’s Old Town was used as a location for the series, which stars Richard Madden and Dustin Hoffman.
“The Promise” – This 2016 film, which is set during World War I, filmed several scenes in Dubrovnik. The city’s Old Town was used as a location for the film, which stars Christian Bale and Oscar Isaac.
Aside from these productions, Dubrovnik has also been used as a filming location for several other films and TV series over the last 30 years, including “Captain America: The First Avenger,” “The Iron Throne,” “The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box,” and “The Musketeers.” The city’s stunning architecture and coastal location have made it a popular choice for filmmakers looking for a historic or exotic backdrop for their productions.
Interesting to know:
During the filming of “Game of Thrones” in Dubrovnik, the production team had to deal with several challenges, including the high number of tourists in the city during the summer months. To minimize the impact of the filming on the city’s tourism industry, the production team worked closely with local authorities to ensure that filming was carried out at times when there were fewer tourists around. Additionally, the production team had to deal with the city’s strict noise restrictions, which meant that they had to film many scenes at night to avoid disturbing the city’s residents.
Another interesting fact is that the filming of “Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi” in Dubrovnik caused a stir among fans of the franchise, who speculated that the city would be used as the location for a new planet in the Star Wars universe. While the planet Canto Bight was indeed set in Dubrovnik, the city’s architecture was also used as inspiration for the design of the planet’s creatures and vehicles.
During the filming of “The Borgias” in Dubrovnik, the production team had to deal with the city’s strict conservation rules, which prohibit any changes to the city’s historic buildings. To work around this, the production team used a combination of practical effects and digital effects to make the city’s buildings look more like those of Renaissance-era Rome.
Overall, the filming of Hollywood productions in Dubrovnik has brought attention to the city and its rich history and culture. The city’s stunning architecture and coastal location have made it a popular choice for filmmakers, and its strict conservation rules have helped to preserve its historic buildings for future generations to enjoy.
Filming locations:
For “Game of Thrones”, Dubrovnik was used as the main filming location for the fictional city of King’s Landing, which is the capital of the Seven Kingdoms in the show. Some of the most recognizable locations used in the series include:
Dubrovnik City Walls: The walls surrounding the Old City of Dubrovnik were used extensively in the series, particularly for scenes featuring King’s Landing’s Red Keep and Blackwater Bay.
Fort Lovrijenac: Also known as the “Dubrovnik Fortress” or the “Red Keep” in the show, this fortress was used as the main filming location for many of the scenes set in King’s Landing.
St. Dominic Street: This street was used as the location for the infamous “Walk of Shame” scene in which Cersei Lannister is forced to walk naked through the streets of King’s Landing as a form of punishment.
For “Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi”, Dubrovnik was used as the filming location for the planet Canto Bight, a wealthy and luxurious city in the Star Wars universe. Some of the locations used in the film include:
Stradun: Dubrovnik’s main street was used as the inspiration for Canto Bight’s central promenade.
Dubrovnik’s Old City: Various locations within the Old City, including the Rector’s Palace and the City Walls, were used to create the opulent and extravagant aesthetic of Canto Bight.
Buza Bar: This popular cliffside bar in Dubrovnik was used as the location for a scene featuring Finn and Rose escaping from the city on the back of a Fathier, one of the creatures native to Canto Bight.
Overall, Dubrovnik’s stunning architecture and historic landmarks have made it a popular filming location for Hollywood productions, and its unique blend of medieval and modern aesthetics has helped to create memorable and distinctive settings for both “Game of Thrones” and “Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi”.
