The Union had many filming locations, including the famous BT Tower in London. It does not come as a surprise. The Netflix flick was full of action, allowing the production team to scout well-known locations that viewers could recognize. To its credit, I mentioned in my review that the action set-pieces were surprisingly great. Even with A-listers Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry, there was a concerted effort to make this movie worthwhile.
The Union was mainly filmed in London, New Jersey, Piran (a City in Slovenia), and Trieste (a City in Italy).
London, England
First, let’s talk about London, the capital of England. It is an easy tourist destination to recognize in plenty of big-budget movies.
Surprisingly, The Union uses the city more than you expect. The camera crew uses London Bridge, Tower Bridge, Albert Bridge at the River Thames, the BT Tower, Savoy Theatre, and The Shard.
The Union makes a big deal out of the BT Tower in Fitzrovia, London. The agency’s HQ is there in the movie, which is a lovely novelty for people who live in the UK. The BT Tower has gone by many names in the past (GPO Tower, Post Office Tower, and then the Telecom Tower).
Surprisingly, though you would not think it, the BT Tower started construction in 1961 and was the tallest building in the United Kingdom until 1980. So, while it looks like a run-of-the-mill location in London, it does have its history in the 20th Century.
You may have also seen this building in movies like The Bourne Ultimatum and V for Vendetta.
However, shooting here did come with issues. On May 4, 2022, the production company had to apologize to the residents and businesses of Fitzrovia for noise pollution (as reported by The Fitzrovia News).
An Image of The BT Tower in London used as a filming location in Netflix’s ‘The Union’ (Credit – Euronews)
Another location that you should add to your trivia knowledge base is Savoy Theatre, a West End theatre situated in Strand in the City of Westminster. This theatre has existed since 1881 and has been rebuilt twice (1929 and 1993—the theatre needed restoration after a fire in 1990).
Finally, while this is now frequently used in movies, The Shard likely caught your eye, as it is used in panoramic shots in The Union. This building is not as old as the other two mentioned and opened in February 2013. The State of Qatar owns 95% of it. It’s good for the eyes because of its remarkable spire and shape.
The Shard appears in pop culture frequently: Spider-Man: Far From Home (Nick Fury’s lookout while Spider-Man and Mysterio fight on Tower Bridge), Doctor Who (specific use was in the episode “The Bells of Saint John”) and you can also visit it in the video game Starfield, as a London landmark.
Piran, Slovenia
Piran, Slovenia, is a wonderful place, especially for film locations. Hollywood has underused it, but a filter on IMDB shows that film crews frequently use this part of Slovenia.
The most noticeable scene in Piran is when Mark Wahlberg’s character, Mike McKenna, carries a suitcase around the town while constantly being shot at. The scenes are shot near the famous Piran Lighthouse Church, which was built in the 13th Century and is a well-known tourist attraction.
Piran is visually incredible from a filmmaking stance, adding to the movie’s global espionage feeling.
Image of the scenic town of Piran in Slovenia (Credit – Slovenia Tourist Board)
New Jersey
The state of New Jersey is a popular shooting location in Hollywood. With a population of 9 million, the state is famous for its Atlantic City Boardwalk and musical heritage. Recognizable locations in The Union are Jersey City, Kearny, and Paterson.
The Union is mainly set in Europe, but because the lead characters are from the USA, bringing New Jersey into the mix adds some American authenticity before the story moves to London, Slovenia, and Italy.
Trieste, Italy
Trieste, a port city in Italy, is the third European destination used in The Union. It’s a popular trading hub in the Mediterranean, and with its medieval old city look and various influences, it is a perfect shooting location.
However, more specifically, Savoia Excelsior Palace, a 4-star hotel, is used to shoot interior and exterior scenes.
The hotel, built in 1911, was deemed one of the most luxurious in the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the time. It drew high-profile guests, including Emperor Franz Joseph.
This is also another underused filming location, with The Union production team wanting to expand their horizons from the norm.
The interior and exterior of Savoia Excelsior Palace in Trieste, Italy is used in ‘The Union’ (Credit – Starhotels Collezione)
Did you notice any other specific filming locations in The Union? Did the production team use the locations well? Discuss below.
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