Where was The Handmaid's Tale filmed?

The scenes at the Red Center depict a bleak and oppressive training hub for handmaids-to-be, where they get subjected to surveillance and dehumanizing treatments. When Kate (Natasha Richardson) arrives at the Red Center, three bodies hanging from the wall confront her: one handmaid and two men.

Later, once in bed, the handmaids are constantly watched by cameras and patrolling Aunts. In an act of defiance, Moira (Elizabeth McGovern) encourages them to dump their pills down their sleeves rather than take them. The women are also banded with metal bracelets with a barcode on them as a way of control.

The American Tobacco Campus in Durham, North Carolina, stood for The Red Center exterior scenes. This sizeable industrial center served in the past as one of the country's busiest shipping centers for tobacco products worldwide. Nowadays, the location hosts weddings, conferences, and baseball games, drawing visitors from across the country.

To get to American Tobacco Campus, fly to Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU). From there, take a taxi to downtown Durham, which should take around 20 minutes, depending on traffic.

Once in downtown Durham, you will find historic buildings and landmarks, such as the 21c Museum Hotel and Bull City Burger & Brewery, located across the American Tobacco Campus.

In the Red Center, Kate (Natasha Richardson) and Moira (Elizabeth McGovern) cross paths in the restroom. Moira unveils her escape plan, feigning sickness and enticing ambulance attendants with sexual favors. In this memorable scene, two characters from distinct social backgrounds unite to resist the oppressive regime.

Northern High School at 117 Tom Wilkinson Rd in Durham, North Carolina, is where the production team filmed the scene. George Watts Carr, who also designed the Hill Building in Durham, designed the school. Visitors can view the school's exterior, but if they wish to explore more of its interior, they should contact locals who live near or work there.

Take Tom Wilkinson Rd, off the US 501 N, toward Durham Memorial Stadium. After passing through a residential area, you will see the entrance marked by a large brick sign that reads Northern High School.

As one of the few remaining fertile women, Kate (Natasha Richardson) gets assigned to Commander Fred's (Robert Duvall) house as a surrogate mother for his wife, Serena (Faye Dunaway). We witness two ceremonies at Commander Fred's residence.

The first ceremony takes place in the house's living room, and he reads from the book of Genesis chapter 30. The moment reveals the true purpose of handmaids; their husbands use them to conceive children, something they could not achieve with their wives. Kate watches silently as the scene unfolds.

In the second ceremony, which takes place in Commander Fred's bedroom, he acts affectionately toward Kate. Serena grows suspicious of their closeness. We see how power dynamics play out between men and women in this society and understand how far-reaching consequences such unequal power dynamics can have on everyone.

James Adams Buchanan House, at 1810 Cedar Street in Durham, North Carolina, served as the setting for the scenes at Commander Fred’s house. The exterior has a lot of classical elements, like medallions and triglyphs on the cornice. The entrance on the east side features an elaborate broken ogee pediment.

This location became even more notorious after Michael Peterson’s infamous murder trial fifteen years ago, with his wife Kathleen Peterson found mysteriously deceased.

From downtown Durham, the best route to 1810 Cedar St. is via W Lakewood Ave and University Dr leading to Cedar St. Alternatively, from Raleigh, use I-40 W, which should take around 30 minutes.

In the gym, Janine, now called Ofwarren (Traci Lind), shares news about her pregnancy. Kate (Natasha Richardson) notices Moira (Elizabeth McGovern), whose plan to flee has failed. Later that evening, Moira deceives Aunt Lydia (Victoria Tennant) by alerting her to a toilet overflow and subsequently gains the upper hand with assistance from Kate.

They steal her clothes and restrain, gag, and blindfold her. Moira then secures Aunt Lydia to the toilet, wears her clothes, and leaves unhurriedly. As Aunt Lydia did not see Kate during the incident, she avoided getting accused of the kidnapping.

Duke University in Durham is where the crew filmed the gym scene. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in 1838, The Georgian-style campus architecture hosted The Handmaid’s Tale production team.

Duke University is easily accessible via car from Raleigh–Durham International Airport and Raleigh. You can use buses or taxis to travel directly from either location to the East or West Campus at Duke University.