Fargo Season 5 has finally dropped after a three-year hiatus, and the franchise has regained its earlier form, delighting fans of the comedy crime drama. Noah Hawley is back on track with a crackling script and a back-to-basics approach to the storytelling, and the ensemble cast that includes Jon Hamm, Juno Temple, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Lamorne Morris, Joe Keery, David Rysdahl, and Sam Spruell are all on board to deliver some terrific performances. Fargo is deeply associated with Minnesota and has been since the original Coen Brothers movie, so it might surprise readers to learn that Fargo Season 5 was filmed primarily in Calgary. We take a look at some of the choice shooting locations here.
In this season, we follow the story of Dorothy Lyon, arrested after tasering an officer during a riot at a school meeting. But when Dorothy is kidnapped after being released, it kick-starts a chain of events that will open old wounds and see a turbulent past rushing in to threaten everyone involved. The show was announced in February 2022 and Hawley was keen to get back to Fargo, promising a more darkly comedic approach to the series.
Where was Fargo Season 5 filmed?
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Calgary: Pengrowth Saddledome | Image via Encyclopædia Britannica
Despite the show being set in Minnesota and Dakota, it might surprise you to know that most of the location work for the show was done in Canada, and in particular Calgary. Calgary is a city in the Canadian province of Alberta. It is the largest city in Alberta and the largest metro area within the three Prairie Provinces region. The region has fast become a hot spot for filmmakers, and the city would appear in eighth position on MovieMaker’s list of best cities to live and work as a Moviemaker in 2023.
There are also great incentives available for productions that film in the area. The Film and Television Tax Credit (FTTC) offers a refundable Alberta tax credit certificate on eligible Alberta production and labor costs to corporations that produce films, television series, and other eligible screen-based productions in the province. Applicants may apply for either a 22% or 30% tax credit rate, making the region very enticing for production companies looking for locations.
High River, Calgary
High River, Calgary | Image via Jennifer Hamilton
High River is a town within the Calgary Metropolitan Region of Alberta, Canada, and was used as a location for scenes in the series. CTV News would report that residents of the town were warned that they may hear gunshots in the area as filming on the show continued. Parking restrictions were also in place, and residents were asked to avoid the area with members of the public being asked by town officials to keep their distance from the production to “maintain High River’s status as a preferred film destination.”
Didsbury Hospital, Calgary
Didsbury Hospital | Image via Alberta Health Services
The hospital was used as a location for filming, however, the film crew were to stumble on a controversial issue when they began to set up the location for filming. A report in The Calgary Herald would reveal that when the film crew arrived at the hospital for location work, they would find boxes of documents that they assumed were set dressing for the shoot. However, the team soon realized the boxes they’d stumbled upon contained unsecured patient and physician records stored in the mothballed wing of the hospital. The discovery led to an investigation into the files that were unsecured and easily accessible and contained confidential medical information on patients dating back to the 1990s. Since the discovery an investigation has been initiated by the AHS Legal and Privacy Office to look into whether there has been a privacy breach.
The Olympic Plaza and Calgary Tower
Olympic Plaza | Image via Fritzology Inc. fritzology.com
Finally, a couple of landmarks can be spotted by eagle-eyed location hunters, and the Calgary Tower and The Olympic Plaza further confirm that despite what the narrative tells you, the Fargo Season 5 was filmed in Calgary, and not Minnesota.
Fargo Season 5 Production Timeline
February 2022 — Fargo Season 5 was given the go-ahead.
October 2022 — The season began shooting.
December 2022 — Filming was reported at High River.
January 2023 — Filming continued in High River.
February 2023 — Filming continued in High River and was reported in Didsbury Hospital.
April 2023 — Shooting on the fifth season wrapped.
November 2023 — Fargo Season 5 released.
