Prague’s city center briefly stepped back more than a century this week as a major Netflix production transformed one of the Czech capital’s best-known squares into Gilded Age New York. From January 12 to January 15, 2026, Náměstí míru was closed off and reimagined as an 1870s American streetscape for a new series based on Edith Wharton’s novel The Age of Innocence.
Modern traffic disappeared, replaced by horse-drawn carriages, period props and dozens of extras dressed in elaborate 19th-century costumes. At the heart of the scene stood the Basilica of St. Ludmila, which doubled as a grand New York church during the filming of a large wedding sequence. Crowds gathered behind barriers throughout the week, watching as production crews worked amid white tents, parked vans and carefully hidden modern details.
A major Netflix production lands in Prague
The series marks one of Netflix’s most ambitious European shoots of the season and revisits Wharton’s Pulitzer Prize-winning story of love, social pressure and duty in elite American society. The cast includes Kristine Froseth and Ben Radcliffe in the lead roles, with Camila Morrone portraying the mysterious countess. Morrone is known for her role in the crime drama Marmalade. The adaptation follows the legacy of Martin Scorsese’s acclaimed 1993 film version, though Netflix has yet to announce an official release date.
Filming in Prague began in autumn 2025 and is scheduled to continue until March 2026. In addition to Náměstí míru, production has taken place in other parts of the Czech Republic, including Liberec and the historic Barrandov studios. After work in the Czech Republic concludes, the crew is expected to move on to Spain to complete additional scenes.
The scale of the project has required extensive coordination. Hundreds of people are involved, many of them Czech crew members. Streets were closed, cars removed, temporary structures built and animals brought in to match the period setting. Every visual element, from signage to lighting and furnishings, was adjusted to reflect New York in 1870.
Why Prague keeps standing in for New York
Producers say Prague’s architecture and experienced workforce continue to make it a natural substitute for historic American cities. The Basilica of St. Ludmila, in particular, has become a familiar location for international productions. Michal Červený, head of production at Stillking Films, the Czech company working with Netflix, said the team often looks for places that can convincingly represent New York with only minor architectural changes, noting that the basilica’s staff are accustomed to the technical demands of large shoots.
The project also highlights the Czech Republic’s growing appeal to global streaming platforms. Recent increases in government incentives now offer up to a 25 percent refund on eligible local spending, a move that has drawn more big-budget international productions and strengthened the domestic film industry.
The economic impact extends beyond studios and sets. Local hotels, restaurants and service providers benefit from the presence of cast and crew, while Czech technicians, designers and craftspeople gain experience on high-profile global projects. Partnerships between companies like Netflix and Stillking Films have helped reinforce Prague’s reputation as a major European filmmaking hub.
For residents, the shoot has been both disruptive and captivating. Flower-decorated carriages and actors in period attire turned a familiar square into a spectacle, offering passersby an unexpected glimpse of cinema history in the making. Despite the logistical challenges of street closures and winter filming, city officials and locals have largely embraced the production.
As cameras continue rolling through the Czech winter, anticipation around Netflix’s The Age of Innocence continues to build. Until a premiere date is revealed, Prague’s transformed streets remain a vivid reminder of how the city’s historic settings continue to bring stories from distant times and places to life.
