Game of Thrones looks set to return to Morocco to film season three. They shot parts of the pilot there almost three years ago. According to this interview with cinematographer Robert McLachlan, dug up by Westeros.org, the production schedule for season three includes Morocco as one of the locations.
“I just received the schedule for the show and they’ve got units going in Morocco and Croatia and Ireland, and indoors and outdoors, and logistically I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s incredible,” says McLachlan. “It’s absolutely gigantic.”
Winter Is Coming: McLachlan doesn’t mention Iceland, but that is probably because it’s not a location he will be visiting for his episodes. I have to imagine they will return there to shoot stuff with Jon. That would bring the total number of countries they will be visiting this year to four. Four countries to film one season of a TV show. Amazing. What scenes do we think they will film in Morocco?
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86 Comments
I would imagine the Dorne scenes, right now its been a awhile since Ive read the books so the events are all jumbled around but yea Morocco sounds like a good country thatd have the vibe for Dorne.
JohnnyBoyQuote Reply
What scenes were shot in morocco for season 1?
HugeFloppyGutQuote Reply
Hmm. I can only guess at Astapor, unless they’re doing some early groundwork for Dorne (which I always veiwed as Spain-like).
ShularQuote Reply
There is no Dorne in book 3, that’s not until book 4 so they won’t need it until season 5 or perhaps late in season 4 if they decide to move some things around.
My guess is that they would shoot things from Slaver’s Bay in Morocco.
Ingemar SvenssonQuote Reply
There was an article on an Icelandic website with short quotes from someone from the Icelandic production company who said that they were scouting locations for Game of Thrones in the north of the country, especially around Mývatn. I think that pretty much confirms that they’ll be returning there. :)
LisaQuote Reply
I imagine Morocco will be the setting for Dany’s journey, Astapor and the surrounding areas.
JuiceQuote Reply
Pinch me cause i’m freaking dreaming… Morocco could mean Dorne and Sunspear… Wishful thinking though… It’s too soon… Morocco goes for Astapor guys…
Maria BatsiouQuote Reply
HugeFloppyGut, it was used as Pentos in the pilot. All those scenes were reshot in Malta, however.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
probably Astapor scenes or maybe they will intuduce Dorne from season 3???
Sophia KorakakiQuote Reply
Robert Mclachlan did some great work with David Nutter on Chris Carter’s Millennium series. Great to see a fellow Canuck on the show.
There is definitely some Ten Thirteen/Chris Carter connection going on here. I think Carter and Benioff know each other well, which would explain how Amanda Peet got a role in the most recent X Files movie.
Conspiracies abound!
I would be surprised if they introduce Dorne so early in the story, I daresay Morocco will be Astapor.
Joshua TaylorQuote Reply
I believe he does actually mention Iceland later in the interview, although only to note that the Iceland scenes will be shot early in the schedule and will be done before he arrives to start shooting in late July. Lots of good info in there if you read the entire article.
OhDanyBoyQuote Reply
OhDanyBoyQuote Reply
Lisa, cool! And now that I’ve read over the full article, I see McLachlan later confirms my speculation, which is that Iceland will be used but he himself will not travel there.
Mývatn, you say? I don’t remember there being any mention of a lake beyond the Wall, but the location does look beautiful.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
Winter Is Coming,
Yes, iirc the guy mentioned Mývatn especially. I think he also said that there might be some shooting in the south of Iceland again. He didn’t really have the locations for the shoot nailed down at that time but he had a few in mind. And I think the article also mentioned that they’d be filming in Iceland in autumn again, same as last year, although that seems to contradict what is said in the interview.
LisaQuote Reply
I suspect you’re all right and that the shooting in Morocco will be for Astapor, rather than Dorne. But Dorne would be great — I would kill for just one scene of Prince Doran and the Red Viper, being brotherly and obliquely discussing their “Fire and Blood” plans. I’ve loved how the series has been able to give us scenes that would be impossible to see in the books (Littlefinger-Baelish, Renly-Loras, etc)…this would really be my favorite.
Maybe season 4?
PopeQuote Reply
Astapor, Mereen and perhaps Dorne.
Dorne doesn’t appear itself until AFFC however they could set up the Martell’s early by showing how Myrcella is coping and maybe an introduction to my favorite character The Red Viper :-)
The KingslayerQuote Reply
Also considering how the casual GOT struggles to keep up with the plot it would make sense to show the Martell’s receiving Tyrion’s offer to join the small council than just having The Red Viper appear out of no where in season 4.
The KingslayerQuote Reply
It’ll be The Slaver’s Bay, Astapor, Yunkai and Meeren
Lyonel the RedQuote Reply
The only plotline where I can picture Morocco being ideal is Dany’s, for Astapor. It’s a great choice.
ZackQuote Reply
Probably Astapor scenes. And everything conected with Daenerys. It seems she will not be out of hot sun for quite some time.
AstalnarQuote Reply
Kind of a no-brainer they will be using the old Kingdom of Heaven sets for a certain wall Dany faces this season, no?
KnurkQuote Reply
so yea, those shoots will prob be for Danys scenes
HugeFloppyGutQuote Reply
As many above have mentioned, this smells of Astapor. I doubt we’ll see Meereen as early as the third season, but it would work as well.
Lise BollumQuote Reply
Lisa,
I love the Iceland locations, but is there any forests there? I mean, I’d like to see some weirwoods North of the Wall next season.
paylorQuote Reply
One of the huge things that really makes GoT stand out from other HBO series, like TB for example, is just how beautiful the scenes are. The camera pulls back and you see this beautiful countryside that looks out of this world.
Going to all these locations is really a huge payoff in and of itself. The TV viewer just sits there with their mouth open at the backrounds… And thats only the backrounds. Really does say a lot if a show can leave you with your mouth open by just giving you a view of where their characters are… So awesome =)
ArthurQuote Reply
I agree that it’s more likely to be Astapor rather than Dorne, but they still should introduce the Martells earlier than GRRM did. The Martells feel like also-rans by the time they show up. I know it’s prohibitively expensive and exhausting to cast actors for roles they won’t really need to go deeply into for another season but it would have big dividends to give another faction to root for.
SkipjackQuote Reply
I agree with everyone, there’s good chances it’s for Astapor, though i wouldn’t mind seeing Sunspear and the Martells next year to let viewers know how awesome they are before Oberyn gets to KL.
ASOIAF FanQuote Reply
I think it’ll be for Dany. Astapor for the win.
Although I wont mind a bit if they cram Astapor/Meereen all into one, too much “I’m just a young girl….” for my liking, & Dany gets really dull the more slaves she frees :/
TheFlayedLadyQuote Reply
If the ‘spoiler’ key did not work on my last post, I apologise now. I use it but it doesn’t seem to work, but its not a big spoiler, just an opinion :)
TheFlayedLadyQuote Reply
TheFlayedLady,
Agreed. I don’t think D&D are going to introduce anything Dorne to the searies until season 5. They already have so many new characters and storylines coming up in season 3 and 4. It has to be for Dany.
I also picture Dorne as being a Arab/Spanish looking country/peoples.
ArthurQuote Reply
Arthur,
Hopefully it’ll be a while before they introduce any of the Dornish folk…. The Sandsnakes do my head in!!!!
TheFlayedLadyQuote Reply
TheFlayedLady,
I am still romanticizing with the idea that James Purefoy will take the part as The Red Viper.
Also, those Dornish woman must be total hotness… Can’t wait to see that as well.
But I can wait until season 5. =)
ArthurQuote Reply
I have always pictured Dorne as the south of my country (Spain)…Morocco would do great for Slaver’s Bay, but they could use it to shoot Dorne as well…and I think it will be cheaper than filming in my country. I would really like them to come to Spain to shoot Dorne!
DondarrionQuote Reply
Shooting in three countries must have been a logistical nightmare, so in staying true to the books, they decided to add a fourth country and further complicate things. Truly incredible that something like this is being done for a television show (well, it’s HBO, to be fair), and despite all the griping about adaptation choices in season two, it’s hard to deny how incredible everything looked. Very excited to hear the production will be returning to Morocco, and like many have already said, it’s likely for Slaver’s Bay and maybe some of King’s Landing again, as well. Bring on season three of the single most ambitious TV show ever!
Pastor_of_MuppetsQuote Reply
That’s kinda their whole strategy, to appear that way. And they are going to take the Iron Throne with Aegon in the next book.
OtherAndrewQuote Reply
I’m so glad to see that my affinity for the Martells is echoed here.
I think Morocco will be used for Slaver Bay scenes, which fits right in the timeline. Dorne comes only later…
Lord of SunspearQuote Reply
IMHO I think it would serve the story much better to start introducing the dornish, even if it’s only in conversation, earlier rather than later
KingthlayerQuote Reply
Astapor’s the obvious choice – I’d like to see some Dorne – an establishing scene or two with Myrcella and the Red Viper at the Gardens for example
Nick LarterQuote Reply
Now that we´re talking about Dorne: HBO is repeating season 1 here and last night I watched episode 9 again (not Ned´s beheading, I can´t watch that again) and I noticed something in that scene between Tyrion, Bronn and Shae. When they´re playing the drinking game and Tyrion is “judging” Shae´s character. He says something like Shae is a low born and that her father and mother blah blah blah. Shae, quite seriously, replies that he is wrong in all he said and he shouldn´t talk about her parents. Don´t know if it was just a mistake in the script or Shae is not who claims to be (could be a Sand Snake?)
andreaQuote Reply
Maybe Morocco will be for Riverrun? (Because they have to show the Tullys). Or maybe they are going to bring scenes from book 4 (AFFC) and show Dorne, Myrcella and the Martells. Or Astapor/Yunkai/Meereen.
If they show the Martels in season 3, maybe they hope to shock everyone when the Mountain kills Oberyn Martell in season 4. Just a theory.
ZackyQuote Reply
Zacky,
Pretty sure that Northern Ireland will continue to be the Riverlands, as it has been hitherto.
VirtusQuote Reply
Like many people, I believe Morocco will provide the setting for Dany’s storyline (Astapor/Slaver’s Bay, Yunkai, and Merreen [however you spell that]). However, even though Dorne doesn’t come into play until AFFC, I believe it might be necessary for D&D to introduce where the Red Viper comes from so we get background details on his homeland, family, and story. I hope they don’t push the Dornish storyline (Hotah, Arianne, Sandsnakes, etc. forward into Season 3. However, if they did push it into the END of Season 4, I would be okay.
ASOS is a huge book with many details, as most of you know. So, I hope they focus on arcs that are in THAT book rather than in AFFC. I think D&D would be smart to introduce the Martells in Season 4, but wait to go in depth on them until Season 5.
Tyler JeremiahϟQuote Reply
I agree that the Dornish haven’t been mentioned enough through out the show so that when they (annoyingly) finally get introduced, non-readers will be like ‘who the hell are these guys?’
They’ll have to go back over that
Elia of Dorne was Rhaegars wife, & that her & her children were killed, so the Dornish have a mistrust of the Lannisters…. blah blah blah
But I hate the
Sandsnakes, I know its hard to judge characters that only had about a page of interaction, but they are annoying. I’d rather we just had Doran Martells daughter & leave the Sandsnakes out of it completely!
houndloverQuote Reply
I’m quite convinced we won’t see any Dorne scene this year, there were no casting calls and Aimee Richardson’s mother has said her daughter won’t return for season 3 (or am I remembering this wrong?). However if they really like Morocco this year it wil be the logical place to return for Dorne in later seasons.
KnurkQuote Reply
I could see them adding some Dorne scenes to the season to elevate the impact of the Viper vs Mountain battle, but I think Morocco is more likely to be used as Yunkai and/or maybe Astapor like most have said.
I’m hoping at some point we will get a casting or filming note that will clue us in as to exatcly how far they plan to delve into Storm of Swords this season. There are so many natural finale points at the half way point if they want to really show more of the book this year (and allow more time for GRRM to write the future books so they do not catch up to him), or of course they could go to the more obvious 75% mark and and at the RW.
Considering that they have to add in a lot of Bran’s scenes and the Riverlands scenes from ACOK, and they have mentioned bring some Book IV forward to Season 4 to fill in…. I think it is possible they may only go to the half way point and not hit the RW until Season 4.
darquemodeQuote Reply
That was a theory that some people did come up with. Though exactly what mission Shae would have been on in the Lannsiter army camp I’m not sure.
I suppose it could just have been to get close to a High Ranking Lannister and she was lucky Tyrion turned up when he did.
MormegilQuote Reply
Pretty sure the RW will be in Season 3, other plots may well only go 50% of the way through the book though.
MormegilQuote Reply
How about they come to Egypt for Meereen, the pyramids are already here, and they won’t have to build them as a set.(I know I’m biased ,being Egyptian and all, but it’s worth a try) also there’s the Sahara desert and the heat, and the political atmosphere resembles the one in Meereen in ADWD*mods please put spoiler tags since they can’t seem to work from my iPad *
Hassan MadkourQuote Reply
Joshua Taylor,
X Files and Game of Thrones. The two best shows EVER! If there are any other conmections I’ll geek out in joy.
DavosFTW!Quote Reply
My guess is that Morocco will be used for Daenerys’ departure from Qarth and/or for Astapor
Ren SnowQuote Reply
paylor,
I only know Iceland from my studies but I believe there’s only one forest there that could count as such. I imagine they could shoot scenes that take place closer to the Wall in NI though, as they did with Craster’s last season. Makes sense as the wildlings are moving south anyway.
LisaQuote Reply
I hope it is but at the same time I wish it wasn’t ever gonna happen
Joffs wedding on the other hand… well, I can’t wait for that scene!
houndloverQuote Reply
yea, ireland has been and will continue to be all of the Stark/North (below the wall) scenes
HugeFloppyGutQuote Reply
Dorne and Dany would be my guess
John WQuote Reply
Yes, a woman agrees with many here that Morocco will be the location for Dany’s adventures and maybe a few Dorne scenes will be sprinkled through the next 2 seasons to build the importance of the region to the kingdoms and the “game” for dominance.
Mrs. H’gharQuote Reply
Me neither but that scene is quite long (for just playing a drinking game) and that got me thinking.
andreaQuote Reply
Slaver’s Bay, more likely.
must be nice to be back there, for them. it’s where it all started!
Thiago WaldhelmQuote Reply
Filming for Slaver’s Bay to commence on the Barbary Coast? How fitting.
Varamyr FourskinsQuote Reply
IMO, it seemed more natural for Tyrion to explain his backstory (i.e. Tysha) while playing a drinking game than it would’ve been had he just poured his heart out to Bronn on the Mountains of the Moon. It would’ve felt out of place, and probably would’ve been overshadowed by the entrance of Shagga, son of Dolf. People would be like, “holy shit! That guy with the axe looks like he means business… Now what was Tyrion talking about, again?”
Varamyr FourskinsQuote Reply
That scene was just for Tyrion to talk about his lost love….. Shae is Shae, the funny whore. But a much nicer girl in the show than in the books!
houndloverQuote Reply
yes, that too, I forgot. Maybe is just a long exposition scene (the truth is that I never liked it so much)
andreaQuote Reply
Sam mentions going around lakes on his journey with Gilly. But there’s also the lakes in the Gift and near the Wall that Bran comes across in his journey.
Could just be that they’re looking for good locations rather than lakes in particular. They changed a lot of the scenery beyond the Wall, lost the forests and made it look generally more bleak than it is in the book.
HouseLarkQuote Reply
4 countries for 1 season of TV show – especially only 10 hours of a TV show – is incredible! Any more, and we’re going to need Sir David Attenborough!!!! (That would not be a bad thing, actually – Nina Gold, cast him quick as a maester!)
David The GreyQuote Reply
Morocco: certainly going to be used for the three slave cities. Casting forward, other parts of the country could be used for Dorne too which would make sense from a budgetary perspective.
HouseLarkQuote Reply
Morocco will be perfect for many locations, not just Astapor but Dornish as well (future seasons).
The Ait Ben Haddou Fortress is w/o a doubt a perfect setting, can you imagine a certain spear situated on the rocky hill.
tysnowQuote Reply
so-
Northern Ireland- interiors, North, Riverlands, Iron Islands
Croatia- King’s Landing
Iceland- North of the Wall- Frostfangs
Morocco- Slaver’s Bay
Assuming four countries is probably the maximum (or damn close) for filming. Now, depending on what they want for Jon’s story as he heads south, Bran’s story as he heads north and the blizzard around Winterfell in ADWD we might be losing Iceland in the future but all the rest of those locations will be with us for a while. With crew and permits and all the logistics in place for Morocco if things go well Dorne and Volantis (though maybe Croatia?)will probably be in Morocco as well. If they can find sets for both Quarth and King’s Landing in Croatia, they definitely can find Dorne and Slaver’s bay. Is there a river in Croatia or Morocco that would make a good Rhoyne. NI is too green for that IMHO but I don’t know my geography enough to tell if there is a lazy river in either of those countries. In short if they don’t have a disaster that makes them drop a location we might be set for a long time.
bluemeaniesQuote Reply
They need to get started on more of this show as soon as humanly possible. In fact they are. July!! weee…
VinceQuote Reply
tysnow,
That IS a perfect setting! Thanks for sharing.
AssuntaQuote Reply
DavosFTW!,
Which with all these connections I say Gillian Anderson for Selyse Baratheon!
Joshua TaylorQuote Reply
I dunno, a few rivers could work in Croatia for the scenes you had in mind but there are really no large, lazy rivers in the south (where the climate is somewhat arid)..
Neretva river
http://www.jutarnji.hr/multimedia/archive/00241/usce_neretve_241004S1.png
http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/1531921.jpg
Cetina river
http://widigo.hr/galerija/mx_1276082202_Kanjon_Cetine_Kod_Omisa.jpg
http://www.tomasovic.info/slike/omis/big/omis1.jpg
Zrmanja river
http://lh5.ggpht.com/-9N-uFA_bMdI/SkXdGcTGb8I/AAAAAAAAAG4/4Zm9mtcTWOA/IMG_0250.JPG
http://www.hotel-alan.hr/EasyEdit/UserFiles/Fotogalerija/home/ausflug-zrmanja-schlucht_640_426.jpeg
Maybe Kopački rit
http://lh6.ggpht.com/-T8QMlNjGsf4/R9LFifjWb0I/AAAAAAAAA_0/pHsEDYKoVwM/DSC02601.JPG
http://croatia.hr/Images/t460x200-5781/croatia_slavonia_nature_park_kopacki_rit_001.jpg
but I’m not sure if they could find anything looking really like Rhoyne in Europe….
My guess would be to try something in the Middle East like the Tigris river or something..
Andrija Andrew pQuote Reply
I don’t know about any rivers in Croatia that could serve as river Rhoyne (except maybe
Zrmanja river
http://www.hotelalan.com/EasyEdit/UserFiles/Fotogalerija/home/ausflug-zrmanja-schlucht_640_426.jpeg
Cetina river
http://luirig.altervista.org/cpm/albums/photochrom-prints-06/02523-Almissa–view-on-the-Cettina–i-e—Cetina-River—Dalmatia–A—.jpg
or maybe Neretva river
http://www.jutarnji.hr/multimedia/archive/00241/usce_neretve_241004S1.png
I’d say that your ideal river Rhoyne could be find somewhere in Middle East, something like the Tigris river… Europe just isn’t arid enough…
Andrija Andrew pQuote Reply
BUT I think I found the Water Gardens in Croatia :)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2427/4539588489_47acce1bb1.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/–xULAO-O8w8/TkitTMjPN0I/AAAAAAAAC8E/MrXkIMdwcek/s1600/1580112.jpg
http://www.adria24.co.uk/travel-guide/image/hv3.jpg
http://www.guia-dubrovnik.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/arboretum_trsteno_aleja_palmi_20100817_1506131127.jpg
http://www.cvijet.biz/images/stories/hortikultura/parkovi-svijet/trsteno-5.jpg
http://www.raykarush.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/2009_10_17_croatia_dubrovnik_trsteno_arboretum_23a.jpg
I can sooooo see the scenes being filmed there :)
Andrija Andrew pQuote Reply
Yes, I’ve been wondering where they would shoot the Slaver’s Bay outdoor scenes since they hinted at new location in interviews. Morocco is the answer, although not technically new.
For Season 5, it will do well for Dorne too. And for later, the Sebou River in Morocco is one of North Africa’s largest rivers by volume and could easily become the Rhoyne.
LangkardQuote Reply
Morocco is for Slaver’s Bay. And maybe Dorne, if they have scenes set there.
RinsoQuote Reply
actually he is mentioning iceland: “They’ve got the incredible scenery and it’s also a good jumping off point for Iceland where they do a lot of their north of the Wall sequences.”
PauseQuote Reply
I just hope they keep King’s Landing filming in Croatia. The city walls of Dubrovnik are just perfect!
spikeQuote Reply
All forest scenes (if there will be any) north of the wall will probably be shot in Northern Ireland.
Also, I strongly support hiring Ser Attenborough for any role! Strong Belwas?
House FarwyndQuote Reply
There are no forests in Iceland, they cut all the trees like 1 thousand years ago…I was in lake Myvatn 3 years ago and is pretty awesome, specially the small volcanoes :)
Pau SorianoQuote Reply
Ok, it’s official. This show is the most epic show ever captured on television. The glaciers of Iceland, the dunes of Morocco, the forests and hills of N Ireland, and the beautiful seas and cities of Croatia? Someone pinch me?
…Quote Reply
Which city(cities) are they using from Morocco? I imagine there must be thousands that fit the description of Astapor etc.
…Quote Reply
They will probably be filming in the studio’s around Ouarzazate and in Ait benhaddou although i don’t know how they could film scenes on the sea there
MolletQuote Reply
I don’t see why Morocco can’t be used for Slaver’s Bay and Dorne. The geography is diverse enough that they could find settings for both. Capitalize on the medinas and kasbahs for Astapor/etc., and use the cities and the mosques/minarets for Sunspear. The desert can be used for both.
I’ve always imagined Dorne as having very strong Middle Eastern influences, and I hope they don’t shy away from that in the TV show.
LinaQuote Reply
Awesome news! Morrocco is a wonderful location to film in, its natural beauty is unsurpassed! There are things the best of CGI cannot re-create, just like the locations in Croatia, Iceland and Ireland.
Besides, Morocco worked so wonderfully for Ridley Scott’s most underrated masterpiece “Kingdom Of Heaven”.
It is very exciting to know that “Game Of Thrones” will be shooting there for next season.
loco73Quote Reply
well considering that half of your country is from arabic culture/architecture I think it’s the same :)
Dondarrion,
NostradamusQuote Reply
Mollet,
are you kidding ? There is 3000 kilometres of sea in morocco. have u ever been there ? xD
NostradamusQuote Reply
Sophia Korakaki,
Yes, I’m one of the Astapor. It’s been shot hier in Essaouira, Morocco from October 13th to 17th! Next week, in Ouarzazat!
The scenes here were in the Scala (where Orson Wells shot Othello) and the last day at the seaport!
Cheers!
Jal SafimannQuote Reply
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