Where Was Missing You Filmed? Filming Locations For Netflix's New Harlan Coben Show Explained
Warning: This article contains MAJOR SPOILERS for Missing You!
Harlan Coben's newest Netflix adaptation, Missing You, changes the setting from New York to England, raising the question of where exactly the production filmed. In recent years, Netflix has gained a name for putting out interesting mystery and suspense miniseries, and Missing You is no exception. Based on the novel by Coben, the show follows a detective named Kat Donovan who gets pulled back into the mystery of her father's death after finding her ex fiance on a dating app. He'd previously disappeared after the traumatic incident, reigniting her curiosity.
While the book is set in New York City, the 5-episode-long miniseries version of Missing You takes place in England. This isn't the first time Netflix has chosen a UK setting for Coben adaptations. However, the show maintains the city feeling, filming primarily in Manchester – a booming metropolitan area that was previously known as a textile powerhouse. The setting has a strong influence in shaping the mystery, with many locations being integral to the shocking truth about Kat's father's death.
Manchester City Centre in Manchester, England
The most prominent filming location for the Netflix adaptation of Harlan Coben’s Missing You is Manchester City Centre in Manchester, England. The skyline is visible throughout most of the show, providing a throughline for the murder mystery. At the start of the show, the Manchester Northern Quarter is the backdrop for her date. During all five episodes, Kat and her friends visit the bars and cafes in the area. Many of the dramatic scenes and chase scenes also take place on the city streets of the Greater Manchester area.
Additionally, Kat travels on the Manchester Metrolink tram system, which helps frame the setting. Manchester is similar to NYC in that people drive through the city, but it’s seen as a last resort for many residents. Luckily, the Missing You character has access to a wide-spanning public transportation system. Other shows and movies that were filmed in Manchester include The Crown, Peaky Blinders, Euphoria, and Marvel’s Captain America.
Sefton Park in Liverpool, England
In Missing You episode 1, Kat, Stacey, and Aqua do yoga together in a park, establishing the dynamics of the friend group and shaping their personalities. The structure they gather at is actually one of the most distinguishable bandstands in the United Kingdom. The red and green Victorian bandstand is located in the historic Sefton Park in Liverpool, England.
In addition to being visually distinctive, this part of Sefton Park has a notable history because of its connection to the Beatles. John Lennon’s mother and father met up at the bandstand in the 1920s, and both Lennon and McCartney played in the park (via Leighton Travels). The Netflix show does take liberties with the setting in one way, though. In post-production, they superimposed the Manchester skyline to maintain narrative consistency.
Glossop in Derbyshire, England
Though Missing You includes many disturbing characters, one of the most difficult to stomach is Titus Monroe. In addition to running a dog-breeding service, Monroe kidnaps and blackmails individuals, which Kat uncovers during her investigation. As such a dubious individual, it makes perfect sense that he would live far away from anyone else. His farm, where he commits his crimes, is filmed on two farms in Glossop, an area of Derbyshire, England.
Steve Pemberton, who plays Titus Monroe, told Woman & Home that the locations they picked were perfect because of the atmosphere, and he’s entirely right. The Glossop farms are the perfect backdrop for the climactic ending of Missing You, which involves shocking revelations and attempted murder. The creepy ambiance adds to the suspense that’s built up across all five episodes.
Parkgate, Cheshire, England
Numerous scenes of Missing You take place in the picturesque coastal town of Parkgate in Cheshire, England. Kat spends time in the Nicholls Famous Ice Cream shop while contemplating her father’s murder.
Tony Wilson’s Loft In Knott Mill in Manchester, England
Outside of her work as a detective, Kat is trendy and metropolitan, which is reflected in her choice of loft apartment. Her apartment has an open floor plan, with the bedrooms and kitchen attached to a giant living room. The slanted roofing and furniture feel extremely modern. Interestingly, her apartment is a real-life loft that’s above a converted warehouse in the Knott Mill area of Manchester, England.
According to Confidentials, the loft was designed by Ben Kelly to be one large room with bedrooms and bathrooms sections off. The owner – British record label entrepreneur, radio personality, and musician Tony Wilson – lived there from 1997 until his death in 2007, though he tried to sell off the apartment many times.
Manchester Art Gallery in Manchester, England
In Missing You episode 4, Kat meets up with the organized crime boss, Calligan, who she believes had her father killed. Her dad served as an insider for Calligan before his death, giving the pair a direct connection. The detective meets Calligan at a location, selected by him, that seems perfect for the 007-esque villain – an art gallery. This shows that he’s refined and cultured, setting him apart from the ordinary stereotypical criminal. Additionally, the fact that he owns The Chariot Race shows just how wealthy and respected he is.
Related Why Missing You's Rotten Tomatoes Score Is So Much Lower Than Fool Me Once's Netflix's latest Harlan Coben adaptation, Missing You, has a significantly lower Rotten Tomatoes score compared to its predecessor, Fool Me Once.
The interaction between Kat and Calligan, which provides her with vital information, was filmed at the Manchester Art Gallery in Manchester, England. The free public art gallery opened its doors in January 1883 and has become a staple of Manchester in the past 141 years. The building, designed by architect Charles Barry, is stylized in the Greek Revival style. The gallery hosts over 46,000 items that range from paintings to costumes.
Lake District in Keswick, England
Toward the end of Missing You episode 5, viewers can see the Lake District of Keswick, England in outdoor scenes. According to the Keswick Reminder, Quay St. Productions used Manesty Park along the shores of Derwentwater Lake, but they remained tight-lipped about the specific production. This was only confirmed as a filming location for Missing You closer to the show’s release.
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