'Homeland' won't be shot in Israel after all

Exclusive: Producers of American drama-thriller television series decide to move third season's filming location to Morocco due to concerns over Syria crisis

Ran Boker |Published: 09.16.13 , 15:22

The third season of American drama-thriller television series "Homeland," which was scheduled to be filmed in Israel next month, will be shot in Morocco instead due to concerns over the security-related situation in the region following the crisis in Syria.

The show's American producers informed the producers in Israel of their decision on Saturday.

A World Away

'Homeland' irks Lebanese, Israelis

Associated Press

TV show about Arab terrorists, American turncoats inadvertently becomes tale of two cities: Beirutis are angry over misleading depiction of their city as swarming with terrorists; Israelis are peeved that Haifa, Tel Aviv appear to be Middle Eastern after all

'Homeland' irks Lebanese, Israelis

"We were already getting organized, we even received scripts, and in the end we were told that the shooting had been moved. It's frustrating," said a source with knowledge of the details.

According to estimates, the Israeli production company lost hundreds of thousands of shekels following the change in location.

'Homeland.' Producers planned to shoot in Tel Aviv area

Only about two months ago, the American show's producers announced during a press conference that parts of the third season, which will air soon in the United States and Israel, will be shot in the Jewish state.

The announcement came as no surprise to anyone, as parts of the first and second season were also filmed in Israel. One of the previous filming locations was the village of Barta'a beyond the Green Line, but this time the Israeli producers planned to shoot in the Tel Aviv area.

The decision to shoot in Morocco is not surprising either, as "Homeland" creators Howard Gordon and Israeli director and scriptwriter Gideon Raff are currently working on a new series called "Tyrant," which will also be filmed in the northwestern African country.