Marvel, Netflix and Amazon projects returning to shoot in the Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is gearing up for the return of major international projects that were interrupted by the coronavirus, including Disney/Marvel’s series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Amazon Studios’ Wheel of Time.

The Czech Republic government has given the green light for film and television projects to resume production in the country with backlots reopening, but has recommended productions follow new hygiene standards, including testing for cast and crew every 14 days.

Other projects readying to shoot in the country include: another Amazon Studios project Carnival Row season 2, starring Orlando Bloom and Carla Delevigne; Ruin, starring Margot Robbie; and the Netflix projects Haunted season 3 and movie 473 Transatlantic. Netflix was also due to partly shoot season 2 of the hugely popular series The Witcher, starring Henry Cavill, in the Czech Republic.  

The Audiovisual Producers Association has prepared health and safety guidelines in cooperation with the Czech Film Fund and the European Institute for Health and Safety in Film Industry.

“What lies ahead of the filmmaking routine is ‘the new normal’,” film commissioner Pavlina Zipkova at the Czech Film Commission, tells KFTV.

“Adherence to these recommendations, including testing actors every 14 days during production and, of course, maintaining sanitation standards on location and in studios, will reduce the possibility of infection to an absolute minimum. However, they also apply to cross-border transport – foreign actors and crew members must show a negative test when leaving their country. Within 72 hours of arrival, they will undergo a second test, and remain quarantined until they receive a negative result. The result is usually received the next day. In this way they can avoid the 14-day quarantine, which would severely impact film budgets.”

Production was actually never banned during the coronavirus crisis, “it was the restrictions imposed on society that had the impact on film production,” explains Zipkova. “International productions that were interrupted have started preparing shooting schedules. Some of the international partners are not ready to resume. What matters is that the Czech Republic is ready and also a safe country to shoot,” adds Zipkova to KFTV.

The Czech Republic has proven hugely popular as a shooting location thanks to its expert crews, great locations, quality infrastructure and an enticing rebate of 20% based on local spend. Last year, projects included the Canadian-German TV series Shadowplay and theGerman sci-fi series Tribes of Europa, produced by Wiedemann & Berg for Netflix.

The latter filmed from September to December across the Czech Republic, including at Studio Barrandov in Prague, which offers 13 sound stages (nine at Barrandov and four at its Hostivar complex 20 minutes away) and a vast 160,000 square meter backlot with an artificial embankment and natural horizon..

"When I come to the Czech Republic, I always find reliable partners, skilled crews, interesting locations and a very handy production incentive structure in place,“ enthuses Udo Happel, a producer on Tribes of Europa.