The new season premieres on Netflix on May 5.
Sense8, Netflix’s sci-fi drama following eight mentally and emotionally connected strangers, built a cult following when it premiered in the summer of 2015. Many watched as each of the main characters discovered their ability and fought to protect each other from the mysterious organization hunting them down.
The first season took viewers everywhere from Mexico City to Berlin, and season two promises even more globetrotting. The team filmed in 16 cities this time around — that’s about seven more than the previous season.
While the wait has been long — it’s been nearly two years since the series premiere — fans are eager to find out what happens to their favorite characters when the second season is released on May 5.
In anticipation, we asked the cast and crew to reflect on their favorite filming locations.
Brian J. Smith – Will Gorski
“Any time spent in Berlin is a good time for me. I love the underground, gritty feel of the nightlife, and the brutally honest humor of Berliners. Positano was another location we shot in for season two. Its unbelievable beauty left its mark on me, and I still dream about the food."
Tuppence Middleton – Riley Blue
“My favorite filming location for season two would definitely be Amsterdam. In particular, being allowed to film inside the Rijksmuseum. To see Rembrandt's 'The Night Watch' in the flesh during a night shoot, and to view it with all the space, time, and quiet offered to us by the museum after closing time was an experience I will never forget. We wandered the hallways of the museum in the dead of night with no one else around. It was really amazing. Amsterdam itself is a city full of love, and the people there are so kind and open. I spent my days off cycling beside the canals and exploring the many galleries and museums the city has to offer.”
Max Riemelt – Wolfgang Bogdanow
“My favorite place to shoot was Chicago, for its beautiful architecture and culture. There is so much to see like Millennium Park and the art institute. Everything is just amazing to look at. Also, I saw a Cub’s game while we were there. It was my first baseball game, and they became the world champions later that season.”
Tina Desai – Kala Dandekar
“I loved filming in Malta. The architecture is a mix of various Mediterranean cultures, and the Mediterranean Sea is the most beautiful shade of blue green. Swimming in the sea was on my bucket list, so it was amazing to be able to do that, even though the water was cold! Additionally, the Caravaggio paintings at St. John's Co-Cathedral, the handmade glass, the lace, the food, and even Popeye's village, made the experience there incredible.”
Miguel Angel Silvestre – Lito Rodriguez
"It’s very difficult for me to choose only one place, but I would say Brazil. The country is special to me, and I love it even more every time I go. Berlin was amazing because of the art and the attitude of the city. Italy’s traditions, food, and people are amazing. Shooting in Positano was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. Having a coffee next to the sea every morning was paradise.”
Jamie Clayton – Nomi Marks
“Our show is so special because every scene is shot on location. Some of my fondest memories from season one are from Iceland. We filmed on a boat for the final shot of the season, and our green room was on the dock. It was so beautiful. Filming in Harpa Hall was also one of the most amazing experiences. It's such a stunning building. We ended up having our wrap party there, which is a night I'll never forget. Season two was also filled with epic locations. The view of London from The Shard was spectacular. I also really, really loved Amsterdam. We filmed a major scene at a club called Paradiso. It's not everyday we get to dance all night while working.”
Toby Onwumere – Capheus
“My favorite city that we shot in during season two would have to be Nairobi. That was the location that I obviously did the most work, but being able to see the spirit and the energy of all the people there was amazing. Having little kids run up to us in between takes with sheer marvel in their eyes, and then the next day experiencing the camaraderie and joy of thousands of extras in one of our big stunt days left such an amazing impression on me.”
John Toll – Director of Photography
“One thing that stood out for me was how ambitious we were on the first day of shooting on the first season. We started in San Francisco, and we went to a place called Twin Peaks. It’s elevated and has these incredible views in the middle of the city. You could see all the way from the Golden Gate to the Bay Bridge and the whole city of San Francisco in between. But because of the weather in the city, there was usually cloud coverage or fog. We were determined to shoot a sequence there, and we wanted it to be at sunrise. The chances of actually being up there and seeing a sunrise were pretty low, but we decided to just go for it. We got there at about 5:00 a.m. in the dark, set up, and waited to see what would happen. Miraculously, everything fell into place. It was an absolutely clear day and happened exactly as scripted. It was just an incredible omen for the beginning of the project.”
Naveen Andrews – Jonas Maliki
“It think it would have to be Amsterdam for me, just because at that time, in terms of the whole Brexit situation in England, it was really refreshing to be in a country in Europe where people were acting civilized. I found it reassuring.”
Terrence Mann – Mr. Whispers
“I enjoyed every location we went to, but I would have to say London was, for me, the most exciting. I didn't get a chance to go to all the other exotic places around the world, as Mr. Whispers was kept in the Western Hemisphere. We shot at Parliament and in the big glass high-rises. Plus, I got a chance to go to a lot of theater while we were there. We also shot at these big, Downton Abbey like estates in Cambridge. It was like a fairytale time for me.”
Daryl Hannah – Angelica Turing
“I think one of my favorite places is Positano. It was the first location we shot for the Christmas special. One of the great things about that time was that it was off-season, so we got to really experience Positano as a functioning town, not just as a tourist destination. It was just so beautiful. I’ve been going there since I was a little girl, and the town has both changed and stayed the same. There’s not much room for expansion, but it has become more tourist oriented. There are a lot more shops rather than butchers and bakeries. There’s also that exquisite water and the amazing caves on the coast. It’s was so enchanting and remarkable to experience that town when it was off-season in that way.”
Grant Hill – Executive Producer
“One location I particularly remember is Sao Paulo, because it wasn’t exactly scheduled. We were about halfway through the shoot when we were invited to the city for a big festival. We flew overnight from L.A. and really had no time to prep. It was such a ridiculous idea to think we’d to be able to turn around in two days, as we had barely even scouted it. But we got down there quickly and it went spectacularly well. It ended up being a very vibrant and important part of the series. I really enjoyed that.”
