Where was Washington Black shot? Revisiting key filming locations of the Sterling K. Brown series

Washington Black is a TV series about a boy, Wash, who runs away as a slave in Barbados and goes to a lot of destinations. The series reveals his life in the early 1800s, his exit to the Caribbean, the North America and beyond.

The filming crew was very selective in choosing real-life locations to fit each scene of his escapade. These were the Washington Black locations selected to provide good visual aid to the series. They make the audience sense that they are following Wash in real historical backgrounds.

It is a show that features Sterling K. Brown and Ernest Kingsley Jr., and it was shot from 2022 to 2024. The principal locations where Washington Black was filmed are: Nova Scotia in Canada, tropical islands as a substitute for Barbados, Virginia in the United States, arid deserts in Morocco, snow-clad fields in Iceland, and scenes filmed in Mexico.

The series reproduces the visual appearance of the described locations thanks to real landscapes and towns; and this detail helps to make the story of Wash look more authentic.

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1. Nova Scotia, Canada

The team began filming in Nova Scotia, starting around March 28, 2022. They picked towns like Halifax, Lunenburg, Mount Uniacke, and the Fortress of Louisbourg. These places look like they did in the 1800s, with cobblestone streets, old buildings, and historic scenery.

Lunenburg has colorful fishermen’s houses, and the Fortress at Louisbourg looks like an old fort from colonial days. The Ovens Natural Park offers rocky cliffs and sea caves that add drama to the visuals. These Washington Black filming locations help recreate Wash's new life in Nova Scotia after he escapes Barbados.

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2. Caribbean Setting: U.S. Virgin Islands (St. Thomas)

To depict Wash’s beginnings on a sugar plantation in Barbados; the crew filmed in Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. The town’s tropical climate, older colonial architecture, and surrounding greenery made it a good stand‑in for Barbados.

Filming here provided a safe and accessible way to show the Caribbean plantation setting. These scenes helped viewers feel the heat, humidity, and early hardship that Wash faced on his journey from the island.

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3. Virginia, USA

The series needed American plantation landscapes for the early portion of Wash’s escape. Rural Virginia locations were used to stand in for parts of the American South in the early 1800s.

These areas include fields, simple wooden houses, and farm roads. The Virginia scenes frame Wash’s journey through early American life, showing how he moved through rural environments before traveling further north or overseas.

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4. Morocco Desert Landscapes

For parts of Wash’s global journey through harsh, open environments, the crew filmed in Morocco. The wide dunes and desert vistas helped represent sections of the story set in environments that are dry and vast.

These Washington Black filming locations added tension and a feeling of adventure. Morocco’s deserts gave the series a sense of scale and struggle as Wash and Titch moved through demanding landscapes.

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5. Iceland’s Dramatic Wilderness

To show parts of the journey that take place in cold, remote areas, the production used Iceland’s dramatic terrain. The plains, glaciers, and open skies created a stark and emotional setting.

These Washington Black filming locations matched scenes where Wash faces isolation and big personal change. The cold beauty of Iceland offered a strong visual contrast to tropical settings earlier in the story.

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6. Mexico for Final Filming

Filming wrapped up in Mexico City on September 18, 2024. Mexico provided historic buildings, varied landscapes, and studio environments needed for both indoor and outdoor scenes.

Using Mexico as a final filming site allowed the crew to shoot difficult or composite scenes under controlled conditions. These locations helped complete the story’s final segments and tie together earlier settings.

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Why these Washington Black filming locations matter

Each selected location matched a key part of Wash’s journey and helped the filmmakers build a believable world. Nova Scotia scenes show his new community life, while St. Thomas stands for his childhood in Barbados.

Virginia grounds early escape sequences. Morocco’s deserts bring challenges and movement, and Iceland reflects emotional isolation and growth.

Finally, Mexico helped wrap production with varied settings. Together, these Washington Black filming locations created a visual journey that mirrors Wash’s emotional and physical travels across continents.