Why Into The Badlands Changed Filming Locations After Season 1

Into the Badlands season 1 filmed in New Orleans and other parts of Louisiana, but the show changed locations for season  2 and 3 by moving all the way to Ireland. From Louisiana to Ireland is a big move, to be sure, but why did it happen? It turns out it has everything to do with the scenery.

Running from 2015 to 2019, AMC’s post-apocalyptic martial arts series starred Daniel Wu as Sunny, a highly trained killer living in a region called the Badlands, a place ripe with bandits, warring factions, and assassins. The first season, which only consisted of six episodes, focused on Sunny’s friendship with M.K. (Aramis Knight), and his conflict with Baron Quinn (Marton Csokas). Into the Badlands season 1 was filmed primarily in New Orleans using places like a 19th century fortress, an old plantation, and a mansion to bring to life several key locations in the Badlands, such as the Sanctuary, the Widow’s house, and the training grounds for Baron Quinn’s fighters.

Production of Into the Badlands moved to Dublin, Ireland, for season 2, and remained there until the end of the series. Though this was likely an expensive move, it was necessary for the series. According to Daniel Wu, filming in Ireland “changed the show tremendously” (via RTÉ Entertainment). Wu goes on to say that in New Orleans, “there’s nothing to see“, so there wasn’t that much that the series could show in season 1. All of that changed in season 2, with the landscape providing greater scale for Into the Badlands.

Filming in Ireland allowed Into the Badlands to showcase all sorts of different scenery. Fans were treated to a great deal of beautiful imagery, including lush, green fields, oceans, forests, a waterfall, and mountains. Also, the number of landmarks in the area made it the perfect filming location. Into the Badlands utilized the famous O’Brien’s Tower overlooking the Cliffs of Moher, McDermott’s Castle (a castle on a small island, surrounded by a lake), the Old Library of Trinity College, a 17th century country house, and several more.

Wu says the change made the show more “cinematic” and “grand“. New Orleans limited the show in a way, forcing scenes to be confined to certain locations, but the move to Ireland opened everything up for the production team. Viewers were then able to watch the characters step out into a massive world. Into the Badlands seasons 2 and 3 were able to show off the size and scope of the Badlands in a way that the series was never able to do before.

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