Hollywood A-lister Nicole Kidman is one of the driving forces behind the Prime Video series Expats. Set and filmed in Hong Kong, the series follows Kidman, her husband, and three children, as they arrive in Hong Kong from the US. It was acquired by Kidman’s production company in 2017, though the production was not without its share of controversy.
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Where was Expats filmed in Hong Kong?
Mei Foo Sun Chuen
An article in The South China Morning Post would reveal some of the most iconic locations used in the filming of the series. In the early episodes of the show, Nicole is seen in her residence looking out at Mei Foo Sun Chuen. This is one of the city’s first large-scale private housing estates, and one of the largest in the world when its first stage was completed in 1968. The area is located in Lai Chi Kok, Kowloon, and is made up of nearly a hundred blocks with roughly 13,500 flats.
Fa Yuen Street Market
Nicole is seen standing in the marketplace that is located in Mong Kok’s Fa Yuen Street. The area is also featured in the show’s trailer. The neon-lit setting features heavily throughout the show and is a wonder to see.
Fa Yuen Street Market, used in the filming of The Expats | Image via Tripadvisor
Victoria Harbour
The incredible skyline of Hong Kong and Victoria Harbour are featured in the series, providing viewers with some breath-taking shots. There are shots of Nicole and her on-screen son on the water at Victoria Harbour.
Mido Cafe
Another famous location used was the Mido Cafe, and it is spotted in the show in a scene with Nicole and Sarayu Blue dancing in the famous eatery. The Cafe itself is located on Temple Street.
Nicole Kidman is behind the TV show Expats
The series is based on the book The Expatriates, written by Janice Y.K. Lee in 2016, and the rights to the book were quickly picked up by Nicole Kidman’s production company in early 2017. By 2019 it was revealed that Lulu Wang was on board with the project, writing and directing several episodes of the show, fresh from the release of her film The Farewell.
Nicole is the star and executive producer of the show and is a fan of the original novel, and is the driving force behind the series.
What is Expats on Prime Video about?
The official release from Prime Video describes the show:
“Set against the vibrant and tumultuous tapestry of 2014 Hong Kong, Expats centers on three American women—Margaret (Nicole Kidman), Hilary (Sarayu Blue), and Mercy (Ji-young Yoo)—whose lives intersect after a sudden family tragedy. The series interrogates privilege and explores what happens when the line between victimhood and culpability becomes blurred. Brian Tee, who plays Margaret’s husband Clarke, and Jack Huston, who plays Hilary’s husband David, also star in the series.”
What controversy surrounded the filming of Expats?
When the series was being made in 2021, Nicole and several crew members were given an exemption from the quarantine rules that were in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing them to continue filming while everyone else was locked down. This led to alleged anger from locals and legislators, unhappy with the production.
An article in The Hong Kong Free Press would label the show as “tone deaf” and go on to state: “The exception for the Hollywood star comes even as the city announced stricter quarantine restrictions for inbound travelers. Local athletes returning from the Tokyo Olympics earlier this week were made to follow quarantine measures.”
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