If you are settling in to watch the new Prime Video civil war drama The Gray House, you might be surprised to learn that the show was not actually filmed in Virginia, where the story takes place. The series, which drops all eight episodes today, February 26, 2026, transports viewers back to 1860s Richmond. But the cast and crew built this world thousands of miles away in Eastern Europe.
The historical miniseries, executive produced by Hollywood heavyweights Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman, tells the true story of the female spies who helped the Union win the Civil War. Directed by Roland Joffรฉ, it stars Mary-Louise Parker, Daisy Head, and Amethyst Davis. While the story is deeply American, the production team found the perfect backdrop in Romania.
Where was The Gray House actually filmed?
The filming location of Prime Video’s civil war drama is primarily Romania. The production chose this European country to stand in for Civil War-era Virginia. Filming took place over several months in 2023, specifically from June to August . The crew built elaborate sets and transformed existing locations to match the look and feel of 19th-century Richmond.
Romania has become a popular destination for big-budget international productions. The country offers historic architecture, diverse landscapes, and experienced local crews. For The Gray House, the team needed locations that could capture both the grand homes of Southern society and the more secretive, hidden spaces where spies would operate.
Bucharest becomes Civil War Richmond
The capital city, Bucharest, served as the main hub for filming. Often called “Little Paris” because of its beautiful old buildings and wide boulevards, Bucharest has the right look for a period piece . The city’s historic districts provided the visual foundation for the show’s setting.
Several specific neighborhoods in Bucharest were used for filming. Lipscani, the city’s historic old town, appears in the series. This area has cobblestone streets and old buildings that date back centuries . The production team also shot in Dorobanศi, a neighborhood known for its elegant glass and red brick buildings. Another key location was Primฤverii, an upscale district filled with beautiful old villas and mansions . Some of these grand homes now serve as government offices or museums, but on screen, they become the homes of wealthy Richmond society.
The production also ventured into rural areas outside the city. Forest locations and countryside settings were used to film scenes requiring a more natural, isolated backdrop . This mix of urban and rural shooting helped the team capture the full range of environments needed for the story.
Studio filming at Castel Film and Buftea Studios
While on-location shooting provided the exterior look of the series, many interior scenes were filmed in professional studios. Castel Film Studios, located just north of Bucharest in the village of Izvorani, was a primary base for the production . This is one of the largest and most important film studios in Eastern Europe.
At Castel Film, the art department built detailed interior sets to recreate homes, safe houses, and secret meeting spaces from the Civil War era . The studio has a strong reputation for handling large-scale international projects. Other major films shot there include Cold Mountain, The Nun, and the series Around the World in 80 Days . Kevin Costner actually filmed in Romania before, as Castel Film also hosted his earlier project, Hatfields & McCoys .
In addition to Castel Film, the production also used Buftea Studios, another well-known Romanian filming facility . These studios provided extra space and resources to bring the 19th-century world to life.
The official studio website confirmed that the entire artistic management team for the Romanian portion of the shoot was made up of local professionals . This included production designer Adrian Curelea and costume designer Oana Pฤunescu. These talented Romanians were responsible for creating the look of 1860s America right in the heart of Bucharest.
The historic Snagov Palace
One of the most striking locations used in the series is Snagov Palace. This beautiful building sits about 40 kilometers northeast of Bucharest, along the shores of Lake Snagov in Ilfov County . The palace is a Neo-Renaissance masterpiece completed in 1932.
The regal architecture and old-world grandeur of Snagov Palace make it the perfect place to film scenes set in the lavish residences of the Confederate elite .
On screen, this location represents the grand homes and government buildings where much of the political drama and danger takes place. For the female spies in the story, these beautiful settings are also places of great risk, where one wrong move could mean discovery and death.
Why Romania? The producer’s vision
The choice to film in Romania was a deliberate one. Executive producer Leslie Greif and his team spent more than six years preparing this project before cameras finally rolled in 2022 and 2023 . They assembled an international team and brought the production to Romania for several good reasons.
First, the architecture in Bucharest and surrounding areas closely matches the look of mid-19th century American cities. Many parts of Bucharest were built during the same period as the Civil War, making it a natural stand-in for Richmond. Second, Romania offers skilled crews and studio facilities at competitive prices. Castel Film Studios has a long history of hosting major Hollywood productions .
Kevin Costner himself praised the talent of the Romanian teams. In a video message sent to the crew during filming, he expressed his admiration for their exceptional work . Morgan Freeman also joined in recognizing the enormous potential of Romania’s film industry.
The real history behind the locations
While the filming location of Prime Video’s civil war drama is interesting in itself, it helps to understand what the series is actually about. The title The Gray House refers to the real-life White House of the Confederacy in Richmond, Virginia . This was the official residence of Confederate President Jefferson Davis during the war.
The story follows Elizabeth Van Lew (played by Daisy Head), a Richmond socialite, and her mother Eliza (Mary-Louise Parker). Together with Mary Jane Richards (Amethyst Davis), a freed slave who spied inside the Confederate White House, they ran a secret spy network that fed information to the Union . General Ulysses S. Grant later credited these women with helping the North win the war.
The series shows how these women operated right under the noses of Confederate leaders. They used the existing Underground Railroad network and their social positions to gather and pass along intelligence. It was incredibly dangerous work. If caught, they would have faced execution.
When and where to watch The Gray House
All eight episodes of The Gray House are now streaming on Prime Video as of February 26, 2026 . Viewers around the world can watch the series on the platform.
For audiences in the United States, the show dropped early in the morning on release day. Viewers in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and India can also stream the full series now with a Prime subscription. The global release means no waiting for different regions. Everyone gets to binge the complete story at the same time.
The series had its world premiere much earlier, debuting at the Monte-Carlo Television Festival on June 14, 2024 . This festival screening gave audiences an early look at the historical drama. Now, almost two years later, the show is finally available for everyone to see.
The cast brings history to life
Beyond the locations, the series features a strong cast. Mary-Louise Parker plays Eliza Van Lew, the mother in this family of spies. Daisy Head takes on the role of Elizabeth Van Lew, the daughter who leads the spy ring. Amethyst Davis portrays Mary Jane Richards, the freed slave who risks everything to gather intelligence from inside the enemy’s home .
The cast also includes Ben Vereen, Paul Anderson, Ian Duff, Hannah James, and Robert Knepper . These actors bring depth to the story of ordinary people doing extraordinary things during one of America’s most difficult periods.
Director Roland Joffรฉ, known for films like The Killing Fields and The Mission, brings his experience with historical drama to the project. The scripts come from writers Leslie Greif, Darrell Fetty, and John Sayles .
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The Romanian film industry connection
This production highlights Romania’s growing importance in the global film industry. Castel Film Studios has hosted numerous international projects over the years. Recent productions filmed there include Tim Burton’s Wednesday series, The Nun, and Around the World in 80 Days .
For The Gray House, the Romanian connection goes beyond just providing locations. Local professionals took key leadership roles in the art and costume departments . This collaboration between Hollywood producers and Romanian talent helped create an authentic look for the series while also building stronger ties between the two film industries.
The Romanian government has shown interest in supporting more international productions. In 2023, the Minister of Culture visited the sets of The Gray House at Castel Film Studio . This visit showed official support for bringing major projects to the country.
With The Gray House now streaming, viewers can watch and appreciate not just the story of American heroes, but also the European craftsmanship that brought their world to the screen. The streets of Bucharest, the halls of Snagov Palace, and the sound stages of Castel Film all contribute to the rich visual experience of this civil war drama.
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Whether you are a history buff or just love a good spy thriller, The Gray House offers a fresh look at the Civil War through the eyes of the women who helped change its course. Keep checking VvipTimes for more behind-the-scenes stories and filming location guides for your favorite shows.
