Filming for Netflix’s The Age of Innocence, a high-profile adaptation of Edith Wharton’s Pulitzer Prize-winning 1920 novel, has moved to Liberec, Czech Republic, this week. Production teams began preparing the city’s historic town hall on Saturday ahead of principal photography, scheduled to kick off Nov. 10. The series’ choice of Liberec highlights Czechia’s growing role as a hub for international period drama productions—and additional locations outside of Prague that can sub for major international cities.
Set in the social elite of 1870s New York, The Age of Innocence explores the tension between personal desire and societal expectations through the story of Newland Archer, who struggles between duty to his fiancée and love for her unconventional cousin. The Netflix series, an eight-episode limited drama, builds on the legacy of Martin Scorsese’s 1993 film while offering deeper narrative exploration through a serialized format.
According to iDnes.cz, production crews are using multiple locations around Liberec, including the Intex complex in Vratislavice nad Nisou, to capture the series’ historical ambiance. Local authorities have warned residents of parking restrictions and limited access in surrounding streets, emphasizing logistical coordination for what is expected to be one of the Czech Republic’s largest productions this year.
A prestigious international cast & crew
The Age of Innocence stars Ben Radcliffe (Masters of the Air) as Newland Archer, Camila Morrone (Daisy Jones & the Six) as Countess Ellen Olenska, and Kristine Froseth (The Buccaneers) as May Welland. Margo Martindale (The Americans, Justified) also stars as the formidable Mrs. Manson-Mingott. Supporting roles include Fiona Glascott (Brooklyn), Belinda Bromilow (The Great), and Emma Shipp (Rivals), along with veteran guest actress Hayley Mills as Louisa van der Luyden.
Directing duties are shared among Shannon Murphy (Dying for Sex, Babyteeth), Lisa Brühlmann (Killing Eve), and Natalia Leite (The Handmaid’s Tale), while executive producers include Emma Frost, Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, and Tracey Cook.
Frost, who also adapted the series, has emphasized that the project focuses on timeless themes of love, freedom, and identity, updated for modern audiences while remaining faithful to Wharton’s original narrative.
The Liberec shoot is a continuation of the series’ production in Prague, where streets around Wenceslas Square and Old Town were transformed to resemble 19th-century New York. Czech crews under the leadership of Stillking Films, long experienced in recreating historical settings, are handling set construction, period-accurate design, and logistical support for the international production.
Czechia’s growing status as a filming destinations
The Age of Innocence joins a series of major international projects choosing Prague and Czechia for historical productions this year, including Netflix’s The Empress and Disney+’s The Remarried Empress. Local incentives, including a 25% rebate program and a recent increase in the maximum support per project to CZK 450 million, have strengthened the country’s competitive position in Central Europe.
The Czech Audiovisual Fund has allocated approximately CZK 360 million for the series, with total expected spending near CZK 1.5 billion. Officials highlight Prague’s architectural diversity, skilled local crews, and favorable production infrastructure as key reasons for attracting large-scale period dramas.
The Liberec segment of the shoot, centered on the town hall and surrounding streets, demonstrates the versatility of regional Czech locations for global historical storytelling.
With filming set to continue through March 2026, The Age of Innocence represents another high-profile addition to the Czech production landscape. The series’ combination of a renowned literary source, a star-studded cast, and meticulously recreated historical settings underscores the country’s appeal as a reliable and visually compelling destination for international productions.
Lead photo: Liberec City Hall courtesy Depositphotos.com
