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Hulu's legal drama Reasonable Doubt was produced in various cities throughout its seasons. The first season was produced in Los Angeles, employing actual locations corresponding to the series's Los Angeles backdrop.
With Season 2 and thereafter, production relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, although the story continues to be set in LA. This is an industry trend and production logistical choice made by the show's production company.
As Season 3 approaches, principal filming is ongoing in Atlanta, making it the series' current filming base, based on public information.
Key filming locations for each season of Reasonable Doubt
Season 1:
Los Angeles neighborhoods: Exterior scenes were primarily shot in Baldwin Hills and Leimert Park. These locations are significant culturally and narratively for the characters in the show.
Interiors and courtrooms: Indoor settings were filmed at studios in Glendale, and courtroom scenes were filmed at Atwater Village.
Seasons 2 and 3:
Metro Atlanta: Production shifted to Atlanta, Georgia, from Season 2. The production employed Atlanta's infrastructure and scenery to simulate LA environments, a technique prevalent in the television industry.
Atlanta adaptation: The production had creative challenges adapting Atlanta's landscapes to Los Angeles's visual elements. But the team still built scenes that captured the storytelling and original LA environment.
How Reasonable Doubt chose its filming locations
The producers chose locations for filming to capture the Los Angeles environment in the best possible way, particularly for Season 1. According to affirmations by the director of photography for the show, exteriors in the first season were concentrated on Black areas like Baldwin Hills and Leimert Park in Los Angeles.
The purpose was to reflect the main character Jax Stewart's background, as he was raised in these areas. Principal interiors were filmed in Glazon, with courtroom scenes filmed on a soundstage in Atwater Village, keeping it true to the show's West Coast origins.
The show switched to Atlanta for future seasons due to cost and logistical considerations. Industry reports, including those of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, point out that Georgia has tax credits, making the state a desirable location for filming, even for shows based elsewhere.
Reasonable Doubt was part of several shows that fictionalized Los Angeles but were filmed there. The primary objective remained to establish the ambiance of Los Angeles, but with varied physical settings.
Why did the production of Reasonable Doubt shift from Los Angeles to Atlanta?
The primary incentive for the relocation to Atlanta was economic. Georgia provides large, uncapped tax credits that draw in film and television productions. This is a stark difference from California, which only offers minimal tax incentives. Based on reports by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and various casting websites, this economic incentive is the number one driver of the relocation.
Hulu and its production partners have remained publicly mum on the decision thus far, but the advantage of producing in Georgia is well known in the business. Relocating a show set based in Los Angeles to Atlanta is no rarity.
Other shows have done the same and kept the fiction of being based in Los Angeles within their on-screen environment. Based on casting notices and industry news, the move to Atlanta started with the second season and continues for Season 3, with filming beginning in Atlanta in early 2025.
Sites that fans might notice
In Reasonable Doubt Season 1, some Los Angeles landmarks and districts, such as Baldwin Hills and Leimert Park, were depicted as realistic settings for the narrative. Glendale and Atwater Village were used as staged settings for pivotal dramatic scenes.
In Season 2 and beyond, while Atlanta remains the main filming location, the show still uses set dressing and post-production to make it look like Los Angeles, maintaining visual continuity in the series.
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Reasonable Doubt Season 3 is set to hit the screens on September 18, 2025.
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