Written by on Oct 23, 2013. Posted in On Location

Homeland greenlit for fourth season filming on location in North Carolina

Domestic terrorism drama Homeland has been greenlit for a fourth season and will continue filming on location in North Carolina. The state doubles for Washington, DC, in the show that was first attracted to the region partly by the 25% refundable filming tax credit.

“Homeland continues to prove its strength for Showtime, and is one of television’s most exciting, provocative and widely-discussed shows,” said David Nevins, president of network Showtime: “It has grown its audience significantly in each of its three seasons.”

Filming on the fourth season will start in early 2014, but the show has already delivered regional direct production spending of some USD90 million, according to the North Carolina Film Office.

North Carolina has a thriving TV production industry at the moment. The state will also be hosting a second season of supernatural detective series Sleepy Hollow, which has been a big hit and spent around USD25 million locally for its opening season.

Controversy currently surrounds North Carolina’s filming incentive because the programme is in fact scheduled to close at the end of 2014. Despite its apparent success, the incentive hasn’t yet been renewed as conservative politicians want the money redirected elsewhere. The uncertainty won’t affect the new seasons of Homeland or Sleepy Hollow, but could impact productions planning to film in the state from late 2014.

Homeland continues to prove its strength for Showtime, and is one of television’s most exciting, provocative and widely-discussed shows

David Nevins, Showtime

While North Carolina doubles for Washington in Homeland, Baltimore in Maryland is a more common stand-in for the US capital and is the filming location for political drama House of Cards, as well as satirical comedy Veep.

Washington itself is not regarded as a film-friendly location, given the level of local bureaucracy and multiple municipal authorisations needed to shoot in such a high-security area.