The Walking Dead Goes Madrid: A Zombie Invasion of Cinematic Proportions
Ah, Madrid! The city that never sleeps—mainly because it’s too busy dodging zombies and pretending to be places it’s not! This coming summer, the Spanish capital has once again proven its adaptability, swapping sangria for survival horror as it doubles for London in the much-anticipated third season of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon. Who knew that a bunch of undead could make such a beautiful city look so… well, dead?
Madrid—where tourists flock to see art and tapas, but this summer was all about scenes from the apocalypse, just up the road from the Four Seasons Hotel. You might’ve thought you were stumbling into a zombie convention instead of a bustling capital. But as the saying goes, there’s nothing quite like a little bit of a fictional apocalypse to spice things up!
The Spanish production company Ánima Stillking has jumped on board, harnessing local talent to make this season a frightful feast for the eyes. And don’t worry, folks! The season promises more than just cobbled streets and sizzling brains; we’ll be treated to a buffet of Spain’s stunning landscapes—from urban chaos to the calm of the countryside. Talk about versatility! Madrid is officially the Swiss Army knife of film locations.
This isn’t Madrid’s first role in the international image makeover department. Oh no! The city has donned many hats, playing everything from the bustling streets of Mexico City to the serene boulevards of Buenos Aires. In 2019, Terminator: Dark Fate utilized Madrid’s stunning corralas to mimic the charm of Mexico. Who needs an airfare to shoot in a different country when you can have extensive architectural plagiarism right on your doorstep?
Let’s not forget about Soulmates, which brilliantly showcased how to pretend you’re in New York without that pesky cold weather. It’s a miracle travelers haven’t packed their bags to join the insanity—one minute you’re in Madrid, the next you’re supposedly walking through the streets of Atlanta. Where’s the passport control in this cinematic world?
Even more mind-bending, the Movistar Plus+ miniseries Tell Me Who I Am went to town on CGI to recreate Buenos Aires. Meanwhile, recent productions like In From the Cold and the Netflix spin-off Berlin have seen Madrid playing roles as varied as Moscow and Paris. I’m starting to think that Madrid might just be the most cosmopolitan city on the planet—after all, it’s expertly passing itself off as several iconic global locations all at once! Chef’s kiss!
So whether you’re a local, an excited tourist, or a hard-core zombie fan, make your way to Madrid. You’ll soon find the city has become a versatile player in the global production scene, standing as a monument to creativity and adaptability. Who knew the apocalypse could look so good?
In conclusion, with its diverse landscapes and robust film industry, Madrid continues to be an indispensable resource for filmmakers. The Spanish capital is not only a playground for tourists looking for fun but also a backdrop for some serious showbiz magic. Fasten your seatbelts, folks; the world of film is coming to town—with a scream!
23/10/2024 – The Spanish capital continues to demonstrate its versatility as a high-level location for international productions
This article is available in English.
This summer, Madrid witnessed a unique kind of invasion – not one by tourists or diplomats, but by zombies. Though it wasn’t the end of the world, the transformation of some of Madrid’s most iconic streets, just a stone’s throw from the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel, gave the city an apocalyptic makeover. This time, the Spanish capital was doubling as London during the early stages of the highly anticipated third season of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixonthe spin-off of one of the most successful TV franchises of the modern era.
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Spanish production company Ánima Stillking is part of the production team, bringing its expertise to the project. With Madrid as the base for filming, this season of the The Walking Dead spin-off will explore a variety of Spanish landscapes, from urban scenes to the country’s diverse rural settings. This underlines Madrid’s reputation as a prime location for international projects, further solidifying its position as a crucial player in the global production industry.
This is far from the first time Madrid has stood in for international locations, according to Madrid Film Officethe media office of Madrid City Council. In 2019, the capital’s architectural resemblance between its corralas and Mexico City’s neighborhoods attracted the production of Terminator: Dark Fate (2019), which filmed several Mexican-set scenes in the city. AMC’s series Soulmates (2020) also utilised Madrid to portray cities such as New York and Mexico City.
The Movistar Plus+ miniseries Tell me who I am (2020) recreated Buenos Aires in Madrid, combining the Matadero Madrid location with CGI to simulate the Argentine capital, while Fortune [+leggi anche:
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scheda series] (2021), directed by Alejandro Amenábarutilised Madrid to represent scenes set in Atlanta and Washington. Madrid has also played Moscow in the US series In From the Cold (2022) and Paris in Berlin (2024), the highly anticipated spin-off of Money Heistboth produced by Netflix.
These examples only scratch the surface of how Madrid, with its rich variety of locations and skilled production industry, has become an indispensable resource for filmmakers from around the world, recreating iconic locations from distant lands.
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