The Falcon and the Winter Soldier resumes filming in the Czech Republic

Hotly anticipated Marvel series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier for Disney + has resumed filming in the Czech Republic until October 23 under Covid-19 protocols, including strict testing.

The series had been filming in Atlanta, Georgia for several weeks up until last month. Now crew, including stunt teams, have returned to the Czech Republic where the production was filming back in March when Covid-19 halted proceedings.

The crew are reported to be returning to some of the locations where they were filming back in March, as well as some new ones. Prague is expected to double for some Middle Eastern and Latvian locations.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier stars Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Daniel Brühl, Emily VanCamp and Wyatt Russell, and will consist of six episodes due to be released on Disney+.

This is one of several big projects to be shooting in the Czech Republic in recent months, including Netflix’s Haunting season 3, Amazon Studios’ Wheel of Time, Das Boot, and Margrete – Queen of the North. Plus, Amazon Studios and Legendary Television’s Carnival Row season 2, starring Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevigne, which returned to filming in August, including at Barrandov Studios.

“The craftsmanship of our Czech crew is second to none, among the best I have ever seen in 30+ years in the business,“ enthuses Erik Oleson, the Carnival Row season two showrunner. “The massive sets of Carnival Row are built out in such meticulous detail that you wouldn’t know you’re on a back lot. You can walk its streets and alleys and directly into buildings that are functional working sets of their own. What would be prohibitively expensive to construct and film elsewhere is not only possible in the Czech Republic, the locals make it happen for a reasonable price and with a smile.”

“Permits and incentives are functioning well as before. We have a stable system here in the Czech Republic,” insists film commissioner Pavlína Žipková to KFTV.

Testing times

The rate of Covid testing of Czech crews is 100%, according to the Czech Film Commission. On all sets, body temperature is measured and recorded daily and testing takes place at least once a week, but for those in front of the camera and the director, testing takes place more frequently, usually every third day. However, there are also projects that test their entire crew daily. The crews and cast are the responsibility of the COVID department, which can number ten or more people on international projects, depending on the size of the project.

Žipková insisted filmmakers need to adjust to the “new normal” and continue to shoot without over-exaggerating the situation. “According to experts, the coronavirus will be present globally for another 2 to 3 years – audiovisual production simply cannot be stopped for that long. Producers must adjust to the fact that COVID can appear on their set and then deal with the situation when it occurs. If the rules are strict, as they are here in the Czech Republic, and the crews are divided into groups that do not interact, then the risk of a suspended shoot is minimal. And should it happen, the stoppage will last hours to a couple of days.”