"A logistical masterclass": Destination X host Jeffrey Dean Morgan discusses the show's impressive production

Destination X concluded its inaugural season with Rick Szabo claiming the $250,000 grand prize after correctly identifying London as their final location. The adventure reality series challenges contestants to determine their whereabouts while traveling across Europe in blacked-out buses. Based on the Belgian format "Bestemming X," the American adaptation required massive logistical coordination spanning multiple countries and weeks of filming.

Host and executive producer Jeffrey Dean Morgan praised the production effort, stating:

"Shooting 'Destination X' was like stepping into a well-oiled machine, with Universal Television Alternative Studio's creative vision and Twofour's boots on the ground production expertise. It was truly a logistical masterclass and the team nailed it."

Destination X's scale proved enormous, covering 5,316 miles across 8 countries with 195 crew members managing 46 vehicles. Production required 6,260 hotel rooms over 4.5 weeks of filming, crossing borders through Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, France, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, and the United Kingdom. Creator Andy Cadman adapted the format specifically for American audiences, incorporating more strategic elements and competitive dynamics than the geography-focused Belgian original.

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Destination X’s production scale, location challenges, and more discussed

The numbers behind Destination X reveal the show's unprecedented scope. Apart from the numbers mentioned earlier, the hotel accommodations alone totaled 6,260 rooms over the 4.5-week filming period. The production crossed 10 country lines, creating complex logistical challenges for equipment transport and crew coordination. Twenty challenges were completed throughout the journey, each requiring specific location scouting and setup.

Toby Gorman, president of Universal Television Alternative Studio, emphasized the production's complexity.

"Pulling off 'Destination X' meant building a world-class adventure in real time, crossing country lines, designing challenges and relocating hundreds of crew members and tons of equipment nearly every day," he explained.

Destination X creator Andy Cadman significantly modified the Belgian original to suit American viewers. The original format focused heavily on geographical knowledge, which Cadman felt was "in the weeds" for broader audiences. His adaptation emphasized competition and strategy over pure geography skills.

The American version titled Destination X introduced tactical elements where contestants could share or withhold information from each other. This created interpersonal dynamics absent from the Belgian format. Cadman also changed how contestants accessed the Map Room, allowing them to send each other rather than everyone participating simultaneously.

Casting reflected this strategic approach. The show brought together diverse backgrounds, from world traveler Rick Szabo to Biggy Bailey, who had never left the United States. This range created natural advantages and disadvantages for different challenges.

European locations were chosen for their recognizability and accessibility to audiences. The production wanted viewers at home to potentially guess locations alongside contestants. Iconic destinations like Paris and Rome were essential stops, while snowy locations added seasonal variety.

The most challenging filming location was an underground well featured in Episode 1. Cadman described it as "so challenging" and "so inaccessible to get the crew, the team, and the contestants down there." The location required specialized equipment and safety measures for the cast and crew.

Each location needed to be strategically obscured so contestants couldn't immediately identify their surroundings upon exiting the bus. This requirement limited suitable filming spots and required extensive advance scouting.

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What does the future hold for the franchise?

Cadman expressed ambitious plans for a potential second season.

"It can only be bigger. There’s a whole bunch of places we haven’t explored yet, and there’s plenty of Europe still left to explore."

The success of the logistical operation provides a foundation for expanded future productions of Destination X. The production team's successful coordination across multiple countries demonstrates the feasibility of large-scale international reality programming. Their partnership between Universal Television Alternative Studio and Twofour proved effective for complex cross-border filming.

The show's completion establishes a template for similar adventure-based reality formats requiring extensive international coordination and resources.

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You can watch Destination X on NBC (Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT) and stream each episode the next day on Peacock.