Where Is Netflix’s ‘Creature’ Filmed? Locations Revealed

Netflix is kicking off its Halloween horror slate with the upcoming eight-episode mini-series titled ‘Creature.’ ‘Creature’ is based on Mary Shelley’s famous book – ‘Frankenstein,’ but with an intriguing twist. It’s set in Ottoman-era Turkey and follows a young doctor called Ziya as he blurs the lines between unethical and ethical in desperate attempts to save people from plagues and other untreatable ailments. The series is Turkish, and to fit with the premise, the filming locations had to reflect that. Let’s see where the ‘Creature’ was filmed. 

‘Creature’ was filmed entirely in Turkey

‘Creature,’ originally titled ‘Yaratilan,’ is set in Ottoman-era Istanbul, one of the most exciting periods in Turkish history, but it’s not going to focus on wars, sultans, or intrigues instead. It’s going to follow a young medical student called Ziya who crossed the line between right and wrong. Considering that ‘Creature’ takes place in Ottoman-era Turkey, the primary filming location was Instabul, the second largest city in the country and one of the cities with the most historical significance. 

Istanbul is a popular filming location overall due to its well-preserved historical districts, like Sultanahmet and Fatih that maintain the ambiance of different historical periods. So, if you want to tell a period-specific story, like ‘Creature’ is, it’s a perfect fit. Istanbul has a growing film industry with access to skilled local crews and production facilities, and Turkey has honestly been, at least when it comes to the last decade or so, exporters of some of the best historical shows. 

The exact year in which the show takes place is unknown, but considering that in the trailer, a scene with electricity can be seen, it’s presumable set in the end years of the Ottoman Empire, so don’t expect too much of Sultanahmet and Fatih.

The second listed filming location is Bursa. Bursa was actually the first major capital of the Ottoman Empire before it was moved to Istanbul (formerly Constantinople), but this is not a history lesson, so moving on. The city is like the Instabul, famous for its historical landmarks, but it’s also famous for the surrounding natural beauty and national park.

We can guess that the forest scenes and winter scenes were filmed in the area surrounding Bursa because the general area is really popular for Winter Sports and sightseeing. The area surrounding Mount Uludağ is perfect for shooting some harsh survival winter scenes. 

What to expect from ‘Creature’? 

Well, considering that the show will put a unique twist on Mary Shelley’s iconic books, we’re really thrilled to see how it turns out. The premise sounds familiar and intriguing enough. Additionally, it was directed and written by one of the most famous Turkish directors, Çağan Irmak.

The series stars Taner Ölmez, Erkan Kolçak Köstendil, and Sifanur Gül, and we honestly can’t wait to see the performance. You can expect a deeply philosophical work focusing on arrogance, hopelessness, isolation, and pursuit of knowledge, with just enough darkness to make it a good fit for the Halloween atmosphere.

‘Creature’ will be released on Netflix on October 20, and then we’ll have more info regarding the specific filming locations of the show. 

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