section_path: Production/Filming
section_name: Filming
paragraph_text: Filming
  
  Filming lasted over 150 days in 60–70 locations (typically 8–10 per episode), primarily in British Columbia. At its peak, the production involved around 1,200–1,800 people across multiple units on eight or nine soundstages and three backlots. Vancouver replicates Seattle, assisted by sets created by the art teams; it was lit with cool, green tones to reflect its humidity, though the series maintained its warm tones overall, such as Jackson's "brown, Western texture". The season was primarily filmed with Arri Alexa 35 cameras with modified Cooke Optics S4x lenses, exchanging the iris with Luxo 's 35 mm lens, adding more glow and allowing better visibility in darker scenes.: 2:06
  
  Ksenia Sereda returned as the lead director of photography, setting the season's tone in the premiere with Mazin and working with Hoar, Williams, and Druckmann, while Catherine Goldschmidt worked with Mylod, Herron, and Lopez-Corrado; they alternated between episodes, with one filming while the other prepared. Both had freedom as their episodes were largely standalone. Sereda's work was inspired by the games and sought to capture its cinematography, choosing largely handheld shots to remain close to the characters and maintain flexibility for action scenes.: 1:00
  
  Delayed by the writers' and actors' strikes, principal photography began on February 12, 2024, running under the working title Mega Sword. Mazin directed from February, followed by Mylod in March, Herron and Hoar in April, Williams and Druckmann in May, and Lopez-Corrado in July. Filming took place in Kamloops in February, and in Calgary, Alberta, on March 5–6, before moving to Mission, Fort Langley, and Langley, replicating parts of Jackson. Production returned to Alberta for 16 days from March 18, with filming in Exshaw, Fortress Mountain, and along Highway 1A from March 21–24 requiring a 72-hour partial highway closure.
  
  Filming occurred in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside around May 4–11, in Nanaimo from May 13–14, on a private Britannia Beach property on June 5, 7, 12, 13, and July 2, and in Chinatown, Vancouver on July 8. Druckmann completed production by July 9. Filming returned to Downtown Eastside on July 12, and moved to Stanley Park on July 13, Downtown Vancouver on July 25, and Coal Harbour 's Harbour Green Park from July 25–27. Production occurred in New Westminster on July 28, at the Orpheum theatre on July 29, and around Cordova and Cambie Streets in Gastown from August 9–13. The wrap party took place on August 18, and principal photography was set to conclude on August 21, several weeks before September 9 as originally scheduled; it finished on August 23, and the production office closed on September 27. At least three rounds of additional photography took place over the next six months, including in Downtown Vancouver—the exterior of the Guinness Tower and Oceanic Plaza —from September 13–17, and Vancouver Aquarium from January 15–16, 2025.
  
  Filming lasted over 150 days in 60–70 locations (typically 8–10 per episode), primarily in British Columbia. At its peak, the production involved around 1,200–1,800 people across multiple units on eight or nine soundstages and three backlots. Vancouver replicates Seattle, assisted by sets created by the art teams; it was lit with cool, green tones to reflect its humidity, though the series maintained its warm tones overall, such as Jackson's "brown, Western texture". The season was primarily filmed with Arri Alexa 35 cameras with modified Cooke Optics S4x lenses, exchanging the iris with Luxo 's 35 mm lens, adding more glow and allowing better visibility in darker scenes.: 2:06
  
  Ksenia Sereda returned as the lead director of photography, setting the season's tone in the premiere with Mazin and working with Hoar, Williams, and Druckmann, while Catherine Goldschmidt worked with Mylod, Herron, and Lopez-Corrado; they alternated between episodes, with one filming while the other prepared. Both had freedom as their episodes were largely standalone. Sereda's work was inspired by the games and sought to capture its cinematography, choosing largely handheld shots to remain close to the characters and maintain flexibility for action scenes.: 1:00
  
  Delayed by the writers' and actors' strikes, principal photography began on February 12, 2024, running under the working title Mega Sword. Mazin directed from February, followed by Mylod in March, Herron and Hoar in April, Williams and Druckmann in May, and Lopez-Corrado in July. Filming took place in Kamloops in February, and in Calgary, Alberta, on March 5–6, before moving to Mission, Fort Langley, and Langley, replicating parts of Jackson. Production returned to Alberta for 16 days from March 18, with filming in Exshaw, Fortress Mountain, and along Highway 1A from March 21–24 requiring a 72-hour partial highway closure.
  
  Filming occurred in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside around May 4–11, in Nanaimo from May 13–14, on a private Britannia Beach property on June 5, 7, 12, 13, and July 2, and in Chinatown, Vancouver on July 8. Druckmann completed production by July 9. Filming returned to Downtown Eastside on July 12, and moved to Stanley Park on July 13, Downtown Vancouver on July 25, and Coal Harbour 's Harbour Green Park from July 25–27. Production occurred in New Westminster on July 28, at the Orpheum theatre on July 29, and around Cordova and Cambie Streets in Gastown from August 9–13. The wrap party took place on August 18, and principal photography was set to conclude on August 21, several weeks before September 9 as originally scheduled; it finished on August 23, and the production office closed on September 27. At least three rounds of additional photography took place over the next six months, including in Downtown Vancouver—the exterior of the Guinness Tower and Oceanic Plaza —from September 13–17, and Vancouver Aquarium from January 15–16, 2025.