Heads of State filming locations: Where was the Prime Video action comedy shot?

Heads of State is the latest action comedy movie to arrive on Prime Video. Directed by Ilya Naishuller (Nobody, Hardcore Henry), the film stars Idris Elba and John Cena in the central roles of two world leaders. Per IMDb, its plot synopsis reads:

"When the UK Prime Minister and US President become the targets of a foreign adversary, they're forced to rely on one another to thwart a global conspiracy."

Alba plays Prime Minister Sam Clarke, while Cena plays President Will Derringer. Apart from them, the cast also includes Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Jack Quaid, Stephen Root, and Paddy Considine, among others. Backed by a fine comedic chemistry between its leads, the movie offers an action-packed globe-trotting adventure.

Considering the excitement for the project, the fans might be wondering where it was filmed. It was shot across Europe, in countries like France, Serbia, Italy, and England. Find more details about Heads of State filming locations below.

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Heads of State filming locations, explored

France

In the film, Alba and Cena's characters travel to Spain while trying to stop a global conspiracy and save their lives. That leads them to the popular Tomatina festival, which happens every year in Buñol, a Spanish town. It's where participants essentially throw tomatoes at each other.

It would have been challenging to shoot a well-coordinated action sequence in the middle of its real-life chaos. That's why the makers chose a location in Sospel to shoot this sequence while using practical special effects. The team also used a studio in Nice (the scenic capital of the French Riviera) to shoot a car interior, meant for an exciting action scene.

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Italy

While Nice helped the makers with shooting the car interior, the streets in Trieste served as a beautiful backdrop for the actual chase. This Italian city is filled with the kind of streets that amped up its overall thrill.

Serbia

In the film, the UK PM and the US president travel to Belarus to thwart a plot against them. It gets them in an epic brawl as they try to escape this Eastern European country to be in Poland. The makers used a location in Serbia to get a sense of the actual location Clarke and Derringer would travel to.

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England

While following the heads of state, the film uses some montages to establish their background. That's how the Port of Liverpool Building and St George’s Hall end up in the film for a few moments. Apart from them, the film uses Longcross Studios in Surrey to shoot the interior shots of the Warsaw safe house, among other things. The space and infrastructure also allowed them to shoot Clarke and Derringer's immediate situation after a plane crash.

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Will there be Heads of State 2? Here's what the director said

Heads of State, the buddy comedy flick, brings Ilya Naishuller back in the director's chair after 2021's Bob Odenkirk starrer, Nobody. Upon its premiere on Prime Video on July 2, 2025, some fans might be looking forward to a potential follow-up. Here's what the director told Direct about the possibility of a sequel:

"I think the way it should work is [that] the movie needs to come out. And then, if there is a certain love for it, there is a demand for it. It'd be very interesting to explore. There are plenty of stories you can tell with these characters. You know, combine [Idris Alba and John Cena's characters] with other heads of state from throughout the world. So if there is a need and a want, rather if there is a want, we can kick ass and do it. What you want to do is, I like making a movie that's a standalone film. I understand Hollywood is all about franchises because it is a tricky business, and I respect that. But let's give them a full meal, you know, and then go from there."