Where Is ‘The Mandalorian’ Filmed? The Real-Life Locations from the ‘Star Wars’ Series

The Mandalorian is one of the most popular shows on Disney+ and with the return of Season 3, fans can’t stop talking about it! Set in a galaxy far, far away, this Star Wars series follows the adventures of Din Djarin, better known as the Mandalorian or Mando, as he traverses through hostile planets with Grogu by his side. But exactly where is The Mandalorian filmed?

The answer may surprise you – the show films mostly in California! From deserts to forests to mountain ranges, creator Jon Favreau and his team are able to create stunning vistas that evoke a sense of otherworldliness while still being grounded in reality. So if you’ve ever wanted to visit some of the locations featured in The Mandalorian, now’s your chance! While a lot of the series films on closed sets, there are some locations that you can visit.

So without further ado, here are all the filming locations that have been used in the making of The Mandalorian since the beginning of the current season.

Where is The Mandalorian Filmed?

MBS Media Campus

Manhattan Beach Studios is located in Manhattan Beach in Los Angeles, California. However, it’s not exactly on the beach. MBS Media Campus is an indoor studio that is equipped with very modern StageCraft technology. Through the use of cutting-edge tools and techniques, StageCraft makes it possible to project any background in 3D behind the actors as they perform.

The Volume

The studio, which is called The Volume, does not use a green screen, which has been the traditional way to display a variety of fanatiscal backgrounds in films and TV shows. Instead, it features a massive LED video wall structured in the form of a 270-degree semi-circle. This video wall is 20 feet high and has a diameter of 75 feet.

It is on this LED video wall that footage of the locations is projected and then integrated into the film. The result is so realistic that the actors would appear to be on location during filming.

With the dimensions of The Volume, it is definitely big enough for the creation of the large sets needed for many of the episodes of The Mandalorian. One example is the planet Corvus settlement in Chapter 13: The Jedi.

For the second season of The Mandalorian, the studio was renovated and expanded. In addition, production built a 100,000 sq. ft. backlot for scenes that needed a more expansive area and direct sunlight. It was constructed about a mile to the north of the MBS studios.

Death Valley National Park

One of the most well-known national parks in America, Death Valley National Park is located between California and Nevada. It is a vast area that consists of rugged terrain and sandy slopes of red and yellow. Its gorgeous landscapes attract over 1.3 million tourists yearly.

Pedro Pascal and the rest of the cast did not actually hike into the desert to shoot on location. Instead, the camera crew of The Mandalorian recorded extensive footage of the Death Valley landscapes. These video clips and images would make several appearances as backgrounds for both Seasons 1 and 2.

Manly Beacon

The very first episode of Season 1 opens with the arrival of Mando on the remote planet Arvala-7. In the scene, you can clearly discern Zabriskie Point’s Manly Beacon. Well-known as a tourist attraction, this area in Death Valley makes numerous appearances throughout Season 1. It is featured prominently in the desert scenes in episode 5.

Red Cathedral

By the time Season 2 came around, Death Valley had become a regular background location. In particular, the steep cliffs made of red rock formations, called the Red Cathedral, have become a recognizable backdrop. The arid and seemingly inhospitable terrains align perfectly with the setting of the story. This makes the Red Cathedral a perfect shooting location.

Simi Valley

For fans asking, “Where is The Mandalorian filmed?” and wanting to visit an actual filming location where the cast filmed, there aren’t many options. However, Simi Valley is one of the few on-site filming locations used in the series. It’s a vast and largely hidden valley in Southern California. It has

In episode 6 of Season 2, also known as “Chapter 14: The Tragedy,” you could see the former Iverson Movie Ranch of Santa Susana Mountains as the backdrop. the Santa Susana Mountains (also known as Simi Hills) are located to the northwest of the San Fernando Valley.

This was actually a very popular filming location, even during the early days of television. Some of the famous films and TV shows that had also filmed here were Zorro, The Roy Rogers Show, Gunsmoke, and Bonanza. The area has since been converted into a gated community and is no longer open for filming. Thus, the background we see is actually archive footage of the old Iverson Movie Ranch.

Also, Simi Valley is one of the driest areas in the country. This prevented the use of explosives or fire, except for one scene where extreme safety measures were definitely used.

Pamukkale, Turkey

In the episode called The Passenger in Season 2, Mando’s travails take him to an icy planet where the Frog Lady ends up bathing with her eggs in a hot water pool. In this scene, the environment on the planet is very similar to the thermal baths in Pamukkale, Turkey.

The crew did not fly all the way to Turkey to do this scene though. While the baths are definitely the inspiration, the background used in the episode was digitally recreated in the studio.

Tetsuo Harano Tunnels, Hawaii

In Chapter 15, Mando makes his way through dense forests on the planet Morak, disguised as an imperial soldier. The design of the Empire base was patterned after the Tetsuo Harano Tunnels on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. The Mandalorian production team had seen this during their visit to Hawaii as they were searching for viable backgrounds.

Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii

Another Hawaii location that figures prominently in Chapter 15 of The Mandalorian is the Kilauea Volcano. As the world’s most active volcano, Kilauea is the perfect choice for portraying the volcanic terrain and ominous surroundings of the planet Nevarro.

Alabama Hills, Sierra Nevada, California

The rocky terrain of the Sierra Nevada makes it yet another ideal backdrop for The Mandalorian. The scenes toward the end of Season 2 where Mando fights with the forces of the Empire to capture the Child took place here in these hills.

So, now you know the answer to the question “Where is The Mandalorian filmed?” The use of advanced technology explains how all those majestic scenes were achieved so beautifully (and cost-effectively). But of course, you never know when production might suddenly decide to go and film on location. The Star Wars movies have been filmed at some truly beautiful locations internationally! Be sure to check out our article that features a number of Ireland filming locations used for The Force Awakens.