Hulu has released a heart-breaking adaptation of Charmaine Wilkerson’s family drama novel Black Cake. It’s a murder mystery filled with family drama, and with a global setting that spans decades, taking place in England, Rome, Scotland, Jamaica, and Southern California. With so many locations, where was this series actually filmed? In this article, we discuss the filming locations of the Hulu adaptation of Black Cake.
The story follows Eleanor Bennett who loses her battle with cancer, leaving her children, Byron and Benny, a flash drive that holds untold stories of her journey from the Caribbean to America; the stories shock her children and challenge everything they know about their family’s origin.
Where was the Hulu series Black Cake filmed? A breakdown of locations
Bridgwater, Somerset
The main location for the series was Bridgwater, Somerset, with Kings Square and Castle Street dressed to look like scenes in London. Film crews were seen in Bridgwater at the end of 2022, with the hope of a 2023 release.
The production company, CBS VIACOM (known for The Handmaid’s Tale, How I Met Your Father) took Castle Street and Kings Square back to the 1960s for their eight-part drama which has been filmed in partnership with Hulu. The production company has given donations to Bridgwater Arts Centre, Somerset Film and Video, Bridgwater Food Bank, and the Nelson Trust. The series is also produced by Harpo Productions — Oprah Winfrey’s production company based in West Hollywood.
READ: Where was The Winter King filmed?
Castle Street is famous for being an 18th-century Georgian street and like much of Bridgwater’s heritage, is an unknown gem. It’s a perfect location for filming, without the busy noises and costs of filming in London. As it was one of the finest streets in Somerset, the locals take great pride in its history.
Somerset was the main location for the films Never Let Me Go, Jack the Giant Slayer, and The Dutchess.
Bristol City Center
Bristol, which has become accustomed to pop-up filming locations, was again stepping in for London. This time Frog Lane in Bristol City Centre was transformed with witnesses saying they could see a bustling Christmas crowd scene being shot for Black Cake. Frog Lane runs under Park Street and they had market stalls, busy shoppers, and a red London bus on the bridge above. Clearly another way to not film in London.
Other popular shows filmed in Bristol include Skins, Broadchurch, and The Young Ones.
Gloucestershire
The Wye Valley cinema was used to make a production for the small screen, and posters for films such as Hello Dolly, True Grit, and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid appeared outside the Savoy Theatre in Monmouth which was taken back to the 1960s by the location team.
Gloucester Cathedral was used as a setting in three of the eight Harry Potter films: The Philosopher’s Stone, Chamber of Secrets, and The Half-Blood Prince.
Cardiff
Black Cake was filmed in Cardiff at Great Point Seren Studios for 6 months. Screen Alliance Wales held a recruitment event, which saw multiple people getting trainee roles on the show.
They filmed in the botanic gardens in Roath Park, Cardiff, and there are photos online of giant cranes, and huge lights with plenty of on-lookers trying to get a sneaky peak at what was being filmed there.
Cardiff has been the set for many other series including His Dark Materials, Gavin and Stacey, and Sex Education.
