“Tetris” is a biographical historical drama movie that was released on Apple TV+ in 2023. The film is directed by Jon S. Baird and is based on the true story of the famous game Tetris. The story follows Henk Rogers, a businessman who discovers the addictive game Tetris in the late 1980s. He sees a big business opportunity and decides to take the game to people all over the world. To do this, he travels to the Soviet Union and teams up with the game’s creator, Alexey Pajitnov. Together, they fight a tough legal battle to secure the rights to the game. The movie is set in the 1980s, mostly in Moscow, during a time of political tension and the Cold War in Russia.
Where was Apple TV+’s Tetris filmed?
“Tetris” was filmed entirely in Scotland, specifically in and around the cities of Glasgow and Aberdeen. The filming began in early December 2020 and finished in early March 2021. However, the production team returned for some reshoots in June 2022. Below, we will take a closer look at the specific locations where “Tetris” was filmed.
Glasgow, Scotland
Most of the scenes in “Tetris” that are set in 1980s Moscow were actually filmed in Glasgow. The filmmakers chose various locations in Glasgow to represent Moscow in the movie. For example, an empty office building on Morrison Street in Tradeston was used to portray a 1980s Moscow hotel. The production team also filmed on several roads and streets in the city, including Charlotte Street, North Frederick Street, Bothwell Street, Ayr Street, and Old Dumbarton Road.
In addition to these, the production team used a few other places in Glasgow to create the right atmosphere for the movie. These locations include Adamswell Street, West Regent Street, and Govan Road. They even moved a little south of the city to Glasgow Prestwick Airport, located at 107 Glasgow Prestwick International Airport in Prestwick. The airport was transformed to look like a Soviet-era location from the 1980s.
In a March 2023 interview with Filmhounds, Taron Egerton, who plays Henk Rogers in the movie, shared his thoughts on filming in Scotland. He said, “They are different places, but there’s something—I mean, I really love Glasgow. I had a great time there although the world was shut down, but even just walking around the city at the time, in the dead of winter, it’s got such an atmosphere. But there are bits of Glasgow that are quite austere and quite grey and a little bit brutalist which kind of doubles very well for Moscow. But I had a great time shooting there. I have a real love for Scotland.”
Aberdeen, Scotland
Apart from Glasgow, the filmmakers also shot some scenes in the city of Aberdeen, located in North East Scotland. One of the main locations in Aberdeen was the Zoology building at the University of Aberdeen. This building was used to represent the headquarters of the Soviet firm Elorg in the movie. Another key location in Aberdeen was Seamount Court on Seamount Road.
During the filming schedule, the cast and crew were also seen shooting several important scenes in different parts of the city, including Tillydrone Avenue and Gerrard Street. Over the years, Aberdeen has been a popular filming location for various movies and TV shows, such as “Pressure,” “The Clan,” and “Roughnecks.”
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Tetris
Q: Where was “Tetris (2023)” filmed?
A: “Tetris (2023)” was filmed entirely in Scotland. Key filming locations include Glasgow and Aberdeen. In Glasgow, notable sites used include Morrison Street in Tradeston, Charlotte Street, North Frederick Street, Bothwell Street, Ayr Street, Old Dumbarton Road, Adamswell Street, West Regent Street, Govan Road, and Glasgow Prestwick Airport. In Aberdeen, the Zoology building at the University of Aberdeen and Seamount Court were used, along with various streets like Tillydrone Avenue and Gerrard Street.
Q: When was “Tetris (2023)” filmed?
A: The principal photography for “Tetris (2023)” began in early December 2020 and was completed in early March 2021. The production team returned for additional reshoots in June 2022.
Q: What is the release date of “Tetris (2023)”?
A: “Tetris (2023)” was released on Apple TV+ on 31 March 2023. The film is available for streaming on the platform.
Q: Why was Scotland chosen as the filming location for “Tetris (2023)”?
A: Scotland, particularly Glasgow and Aberdeen, was chosen to represent 1980s Moscow. The city’s architecture and urban landscapes provided the right atmosphere to depict the Soviet Union during the Cold War era. Specific locations in Glasgow and Aberdeen were transformed to create the look and feel of 1980s Moscow, making it an ideal stand-in for the real setting.
Q: How did the filmmakers recreate 1980s Moscow in Scotland?
A: The filmmakers used various locations in Glasgow to double for 1980s Moscow. This included transforming an empty office building on Morrison Street into a Soviet-era hotel and filming on streets like Charlotte Street and North Frederick Street. In Aberdeen, the Zoology building at the University of Aberdeen was used to represent the Soviet firm Elorg’s headquarters. The combination of these locations, along with set design and period-appropriate details, helped recreate the look and atmosphere of Moscow in the 1980s.
