Written by new-contact on Jun 24, 2014. Posted in On Location

Revolutionary War drama Turn commits to second series filming in Virginia

Period drama series Turn will return for a second season filming on location in Virginia in the eastern US. Set during America’s Revolutionary War of the late 18th Century, the series features British film star Jamie Bell as a member of a clandestine spy ring aiding George Washington.

“Virginia has been an absolutely ideal home for Turn,” said Joel Stillerman, an executive with AMC Networks.

"The Virginia Film Office, the Governor’s Office, and the Virginia film community have been incredibly helpful in bringing the vision for this show to life, and the abundance of great locations and support resources have surpassed our expectations. It's just a great place to make high quality television.”

Added Virginia Film Office Director Andy Edmunds: “This is another huge win for Virginia. A television series is a gift that keeps on giving for the production industry in the Commonwealth. We are thrilled that the ongoing job and infrastructure expansion that occurred during Season One will continue.”

Virginia offers a base filming incentive of 15% and the state originally presented a production deal for Turn that convinced the producers to move away from a planned shoot further south in Georgia.

Historical TV dramas have become big business following the global success of shows such as Game of Thrones, Roman drama Spartacus and now gritty pirate series Black Sails. The ancient world is also inspiring a new wave of big-budget features. Two separate Hercules films are out this year and Ridley Scott’s biblical drama Exodus: Gods and Kings is scheduled for release in December.

(Photos: Frank Ockenfels III/Antony Platt/AMC)