ABC’s ‘Promised Land’ Pilot Was Filmed in a Completely Different State Than the Rest of the Series (Exclusive)

Although streaming giants like Netflix and HBO order an entire show series, ABC still asked for a Promised Land pilot before ordering the whole season. Luckily, on August 11, 2021, ABC gave the green light for a series order. The Lantix family drama revolves around a Sonoma Valley vineyard in California; however, the pilot was filmed across the country. Find out where the Promised Land cast, including John Ortiz, Cecilia Suarez, and Christina Ochoa, filmed the pilot for the ABC drama. 

Where was ABC’s Promised Land filmed?

Aside from the pilot, the remaining nine episodes of Promised Land were filmed in California. Most of the scenes were filmed 40 minutes outside of Los Angeles, in Santa Clarita, and at the Agua Dulce Winery.

“The series is filmed in Santa Clarita, just outside of LA,” an ABC representative responded to a request from Showbiz Cheat Sheet on Jan. 24. “Parts of the series are filmed at Agua Dulce winery.”

Where was the ‘Promised Land’ pilot filmed?

Although most Promised Land Season 1 was filmed in California, the cast flew to Atlanta, Georgia, to film the pilot episode. In an exclusive interview with Tonatiuh (who portrays Antonio Sandoval), Showbiz Cheat Sheet heard more about the intimate setting of the pilot.

“I think we all fell in love with each other the moment we landed in Atlanta that first night,” Tonatiuh told Showbiz. “We just all really clicked because of COVID. We just became each other’s social lives for an entire month.”

Not only did the cast have a great time together filming the pilot, but they loved the location.

“We predominantly filmed not too far away from the Loews Hotel by midtown,” he continued. “So we had a couple of scenes in midtown. We filmed some exteriors in Dahlonega. And then we also filmed in a smaller city nearby.”

According to the Dahlonega city website, it is at the “Heart of the Georgia Wine Country,” so it’s evident why the producers chose it to be the location of the Heritage House Vineyard. 

‘Promised Land’ cast member Tonatiuh describes the pilot filming location

Promised Land cast members Tonatiuh and Katya Martín explained how different filming the pilot in Atlanta was compared to returning to LA for the remainder of the season.

“It was such a unique experience,” Tonatiuh explained about filming in Atlanta. “It’s definitely not LA, but it was so beautiful. We were right in the middle of this town and this gorgeous park right behind the hotel where we were staying, and we would run lines with each other there, just bask in the sun. And I think the energy around COVID was significantly different from LA or New York. People were a little bit less stressed about it. We obviously were very mindful because we’re shooting on a big production and getting tested a lot. But it felt like summer camp because the hotel became our home.”

Martín also felt the closeness resonate throughout the month-long period of filming the Promised Land pilot.

“For some reason, they gave Andres Velez this massive, huge suite when all of us had regular rooms,” she began. “We called [his room] the clubhouse, and we would all meet there and hang out run lines and play cards because it was the height of COVID, so we couldn’t hang out in the lobby, so we would all meet at the clubhouse. It was one of the best bonding moments for all of us.”

Michael Cuesta executive produced and directed the Promised Land pilot episode in Atlanta, Georgia. 

Promised Land airs Mondays at 10 p.m. EST on ABC.