Supergirl: Where Was the TV Show Filmed?

of Supergirl: Where Was the TV Show Filmed? Varun Patel
Updated August 1, 2022

The ‘Arrowverse’ is the television equivalent of the kind of epic, shared universes that have started to increasingly dominate Hollywood movies after the incredible success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. An interesting facet about these shows is the fact that all of them share the same filming location apart from the setting. ‘Supergirl’ is the third series that is set in the ‘Arrowverse.’

‘Supergirl’ revolves around its titular character, who is Superman’s cousin. The show is set in National City, where residents face threats from an unexpected disaster. This catastrophe forces Supergirl to reveal her powers.

Supergirl Filming Locations

Like several other stories from the ‘Arrowverse,’ ‘Supergirl’ is also set in a fictional city, namely the National City. While a city by that name does exist in the state of California, the place portrayed in ‘Supergirl’ is quite fictionalized. Many viewers might be wondering where the show is filmed. Continue reading for the answer.

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

As mentioned earlier, most of the shows set in the Arrowverse share their filming location apart from the shared universe itself. And that place is Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada. The Canadian government provides lucrative tax credits for production houses filming in the country and that has been cited as the primary reason for the increased number of American movies and television series being filmed there, apart from its resemblance to the United States.

In fact, ‘Supergirl’ shifted its filming location from California to Vancouver after the first season precisely because of the lower production costs involved with filming in Canada.

To begin with, one of the locations that should be easily identifiable for residents of Vancouver is the Vancouver Central Library, which appeared in the show’s fifth episode of the second season. This is the location of the gala organized by Lena Luthor. Moreover, a street near Vancouver Central Library, 4 Homer Street, has been used as a filming spot for both ‘Supergirl’ and ‘The Flash.’ In the former, 4 Homer Street was used to film the scene wherein Superman saves a family from lethal drones in the second season premiere.

Additionally, the exterior shots of L Corp’s headquarters are actually filmed on 305 Brute Street. Near the building, one of Vancouver’s most prominent parks, Harbour Green Park, can be found. It appeared in the first episode of the second season of ‘Supergirl.’

Moreover, in the third episode of the second season of ‘Supergirl,’ the scene wherein the president hosts a press conference is set with the backdrop of a rather futuristic, dome-shaped building. This building is actually the Bloedel Conservatory, which hosts over 100 species of exotic birds and is located at the highest point in the city.

Furthermore, in the fifth episode of the second season, the bank robbery scene was filmed on West Cordova Street. Next, the scene where Alex comes out to Kara is actually filmed at the Vancouver Seawall.

Moving on, in the thirteenth episode of the second season of ‘Supergirl,’ the scene where Mr. Mxyzptlk appears is filmed at 855 W Hastings Street next to Hornby Plaza. Moreover, in the seventeenth episode of the second season, a scene where the titular superheroine battles an alien is actually filmed at Cathedral Square. In the same episode, the scene where Alex and Maggie run into the latter’s ex was shot at Big Leaf Pond.

Moreover, Keefer Place is seen in the show’s last episode of the second season when Rhea addresses the people of Earth. Some of the other places in Vancouver where filming for ‘Supergirl’ took place include the Canada Post Main Office building, George Wainborn Park, Riverside Calvary Chapel, Abbotsford International Airport, Port Mann Power Station, New Westminster Police Station, Downtown Parkade, Surrey City Hall, Aura Nightclub and Riverview Hospital.

Los Angeles, California

As stated earlier, the first season of ‘Supergirl’ was mostly filmed in Los Angeles, California. The show’s production team decided to shift its filming to Vancouver after the first season to reduce its production costs.

A large part of filming in California was carried out at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California. It was here that the scene behind the CatCo Worldwide Media building involving Supergirl James and Winn was shot. A large number of other scenes have also been filmed at Warner Bros. Studios like the bank robbery scene in the pilot episode. Moreover, the diner scene in the pilot episode was shot at Middleton Ranch in Acton, California. Plus, the AES Alamitos Power Plant doubled up as the National City Power Plant in the first episode. In the same episode, the Citibank Centre served as the filming location for CatCo Worldwide Media.

Some of the other locations in California where the show was filmed include Skirball Cultural Centre, Terminal Island Water Reclamation Plant, Foothill Boulevard, Los Angeles Convention Centre, Ontario Convention Centre, Redondo Fun Factory, Elysian Park, Leo Carrillo State Beach, Grand Hope Park and Renaissance Tower. A scene in the nineteenth episode of the first season was also shot at DC Stages and Sets on 6th Street in L.A.  

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