Apple TV+’s The Last Frontier not only walks through a gripping crime drama but also unfolds in the backdrop of a cold and immersive Alaskan setting. Since its setting is a crucial part of its storytelling, many viewers may be curious where its filming took place.
Co-created by Jon Bokenkamp of The Blacklist fame, The Last Frontier centers on a US Marshall, Frank (Jason Clarke), who is responsible for a vast piece of land in the Alaskan wilderness. Although nothing usually happens in his lone jurisdiction, things take a dark turn one day when a prison transport plane crashes in the area.
The more the original Apple TV+ show unfolds, the more its primary Alaskan setting becomes a solid character in itself. Since the show’s setting is so vital for its storytelling, it becomes hard not to wonder if it was actually filmed in Alaska. The answer is surprising.
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
At first glance, The Last Frontier almost convinces the viewer that it was shot in Alaska itself because of how authentically it captures the location’s wilderness and beauty. Surprisingly, however, The Last Frontier was not filmed in Alaska at all. Instead, its filming primarily took place in Quebec, Canada.
As reports confirm (via Hollywood North Buzz) its principal photography began sometime in the first week of February 2024 in Quebec. With the primary filming location being Montreal, the show’s shooting on the location went on till August 2024.
In an interview (via The Hollywood Outsider), showrunner Jon Bokenkamp discussed how he initially planned to unfold the show in Manhattan instead of Alaska. However, he soon realized that changing the setting to Alaska would deepen the show’s themes and make it seem more grounded and realistic.
Alberta, Canada
After a six-month filming period in Quebec, The Last Frontier‘s cast and crew reportedly moved to Alberta in November 2024 with a relatively smaller unit. In Alberta, its shooting took place from November 15, 2024, to November 22, 2024. The Apple TV+ show was reportedly shot under the working name “FOXTROT.“
Even though Apple TV+’s The Last Frontier was not originally filmed in Alaska, it does a brilliant job of capturing the raw and untamed essence of the Alaskan wilderness. Even if the show was set in Manhattan, as Bokenkamp had originally planned, it likely would have been no less gripping with its crime drama.
However, the portrayal of the Alaskan wilderness in The Last Frontier‘s backdrop further enhances the elements of survival, mystery, and moral tension in its narrative.
