In the Snowstorm: Where Netflix’s The Eternaut Was Shot
The Eternaut, available on Netflix, presents a chilling portrait of a post-apocalyptic Buenos Aires, where deadly snowfall will never be the same. However, beyond the action and eerie settings, there is an ambitious production effort that utilizes real-world locations and cutting-edge technology.
In this piece, we dive into The Eternaut’s primary filming locations to show how they effectively mix Buenos Aires’ real-world streets with the magic of virtual production and bring a story that grounds you, but in the same way takes you somewhere far off in life.
From the iconic Argentine settings to the high-tech LED stages, every detail contributes to reimagining a world where survival is not a guarantee and the physical environment is a constant threat if you wonder where this ghostly world came to be, read on as I uncover the hitherto unexplored secrets of The Eternaut.
All Shot In Buenos Aires: Ground Zero For The Snowfall
Netflix opted to shoot all of The Eternaut in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where the comic book was penned. This is a choice that helps keep the story anchored in its cultural and geographic roots.
The shooting schedule, which spanned from May to December 2023, took place in over 35 real locations across three districts. That effort went a long way toward grounding the dystopian sci-fi tale in a real city that feels lived-in and recognizable.
Landmark backgrounds — the Plaza de Mayo, the Palace of Congress, and the Obelisk — were transformed into dramatic, familiar stages struck by blizzard-like digital snow. These iconic locations weren’t selected solely for their beauty — they held significant meaning. The producers wanted Buenos Aires to be a character in the story. The actual cities also made the post-apocalyptic story more identifiable and immersive to both local and world audiences.
Avenida General Paz: The Isolation Ring Road
The Avenida General Paz freeway served as the location for a series of wide shots, representing the city’s collapse. Its part in the north, separating Núñez and Saavedra from Vicente López Partido, became an abandoned no man’s land.
Ruined cars and rubble were placed to create a desolate appearance along the stretch. This 20-mile highway encircles Buenos Aires, and its immense scale serves to highlight the extent of the destruction.
The director, Bruno Stagnaro, said he wanted to shoot “iconic strips” of the city. This felt like taking us down a very typical Argentinian route, so it made the scenes feel real. The deserted freeway, combined with digital snow and artificial wreckage, told the story: this is a show about loneliness and disconnection.
Saavedra: Explosions And Action In A Ghost Town
The Saavedra neighborhood, in the north of the city, provided dramatic action scenes that included gun battles and explosions. Its urban layout and tranquil streets made it an excellent setting for scenes of chaos and survival. Because it’s right off Avenida General Paz, the shift of settings was no big deal.
The train yards in Saavedra, its empty streets, transformed into sinister, lifeless places. Production teams closed down sections, trucked in fake snow, and employed blue and green screens to create the post-apocalyptic look on the back end. Its real-world formation made it easier to manufacture immersive and convenient production setups.
Virtual Magic At Cacodelphia Studios: Outsiders Need Love, Too
Cacodelphia Studios, located at 2057 Brandsen in Buenos Aires, served as the location for both indoor and more intricate outdoor scenery. This studio includes an “infinity stage” — a high-tech floor surrounded by curved LED walls which enable real-time rendering of digital environments.
More than 25 virtual environments were constructed here. The system allowed the team to manipulate the weather, lighting, and even urban minutiae on the fly during filming. That allowed actors to see the digital environment and interact with it, instead of just imagining it. It impressed the local actor Ricardo Darín as “something else,” making the scenes real and emotionally charged.
That hybrid of real (Buenos Aires) and virtual environments is what makes The Eternaut such a visually distinctive work. It blends physical presence with digital fantasy, making the world feel both real and otherworldly.
Real Settings With CGI Snow For A Mix Of Fact And Fiction
While much of the show is set in a snowy wasteland, the snow is mostly computer-generated imagery (CGI). That snow was meticulously added in post-production, which spanned over a year and a half, and in which the team did not want to obliterate the real-world locations. The task was to achieve the realism of snowfall and still have the city’s buildings be identifiable.”
Using both virtual snow and physical props, such as abandoned cars and rubble, they made Buenos Aires appear as if it had been overtaken, yet still recognizable. This was a way of remaining faithful to the comic’s origins while giving it a modern twist.
FAQs
Where was The Eternaut filmed?
The production was entirely shot in Buenos Aires, Argentina, utilizing both real urban sites and digital sets.
Why You Locked Down the Avenida General Paz?
“It’s a long highway that you can get wide shots on, and its emptiness also lent itself to make us feel that kind of isolation that we would need for any post-apocalyptic elements,” he said.
What is Cacodelphia Studios?
It’s a high-tech studio in Buenos Aires that features LED walls, enabling the creation of digital environments on the fly. Hundreds of indoor and outdoor scenes were shot here.
Did it snow in The Eternaut?
No, the majority of certain scenes with snow took inspiration from the CGI-created snow effect from Snow Miser and on set, actors acted in fake snow to simulate the real thing.
How much time was it from filming through post-production?
The film was shot over 148 days in 2023, and post-production took more than 18 months, primarily for visual effects and snow rendering.
Final Words
The Eternaut is not only a sci-fi comic series – it’s a profound and visual odyssey through an altered Buenos Aires. Then, by blending actual Argentine landmarks with cutting-edge virtual production techniques and emotional storytelling, the creators paid homage to the comic and created something new.
Every shot carries inside it the chilling, still-hour fear of the void — and the unmistakable warmth of human endurance. Thanks to this attentive location choice and the technology it embodies, The Eternaut is essential viewing for those who love the fabric of world sci-fi storytelling.
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