The Regime is sinister enough to be a true story. The HBO political satire is fictional but reflects enough reality in its depiction of a struggling Central European autocracy — the exact location is undisclosed, but The Regime was filmed in Vienna — to feel like a reflection of real-world political ridiculousness, both in a modern context and throughout history.
Filming Locations Breakdown
Vienna
With The Regime taking place in Europe, it seemed imperative that the correct location for the tone was used. So, what better backdrop for the show than Vienna, and, in particular, the Liechtenstein Garden Palace, part of the Liechtenstein Museum on the Fürstengasse in Austria? The stunning architecture and atmosphere evoke the perfect tone for the narrative and help create the world that The Regime takes place in.
Leavesden, UK
Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in the United Kingdom is a growing and much-in-demand facility in the UK, which has been used extensively in numerous TV and film productions. The two-hundred-acre studio was originally an aircraft factory called Leavesden Aerodrome that operated during WWII.
Sheffield Botanical Gardens, UK
Instagram account @Steelcitysnapper posted that two days of filming for the show took place at The Botanical Gardens in Sheffield, and revealed that more filming took place at nearby Wentworth Woodhouse.
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Is The Regime a true story?
The Regime is fictitious, however, one of the main characters, Elena Vernham, takes cues from the real-life Romanian First Lady Elena Ceausescu. It is not a true story but is (very) loosely based on real people and events. However, the story of the miniseries is an exaggerated fiction.
The showrunner, Will Tracey, has been inspired by real-life political machinations but avoids being too specific about events and people, instead allowing the show to evolve in its own reality.
The Regime is very much a satire. It looks at the world of political power and intrigue and allows the viewer into that world through its fictional characters. There is a darkly comic vein running through the show that cements its status as a satire, blowing real-world political silliness out to its most ridiculous proportions.
Two directors are credited on The Regime. Stephen Frears is an Oscar-nominated director and you will know his name from films such as Dangerous Liaisons, My Beautiful Launderette, and Philomena.
Also on board is Jessica Hobbes, and fans of the UK crime drama Broadchurch will know her work on that project, as well as the Season 4 finale of The Crown that would go on to win an Emmy.
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