The high-stakes thriller “All Her Fault” may be set in Chicago, but the truth behind its filming locations is a story of Hollywood sleight-of-hand: most of the drama unfolds not in the Windy City, but down under in Australia—redefining what it means to bring a city to life on screen and reshaping fan expectations for location-driven storytelling.
From Bestseller to Peacock Series: Changing Cities and Shaping Suspense
All Her Fault debuted as a hit novel by Andrea Mara, set amid the layered streets of Dublin—a locale known for its moody intrigue. When the limited series adaptation for Peacock was announced, showrunner Megan Gallagher made a bold decision: shift the action to Chicago, spotlighting its unmistakable urban identity as a crucible for suspense and motherhood drama.[People]
This switch wasn’t just cosmetic. According to the creative team, moving to Chicago wasn’t about erasing Dublin—it was about aligning the story’s core tension with a globally recognized American city, demonstrating how the story’s themes of parental anxiety and urban chaos transcend borders.[Associated Press]
The Filming Sleight-of-Hand: Chicago On Screen, Australia Behind the Scenes
Despite painstaking efforts to embed viewers in the Windy City—opening scenes feature Millennium Park’s Cloud Gate sculpture, sweeping vistas of the Chicago Riverwalk, and references to the iconic Chicago Marathon—the cast and crew were rarely anywhere near Lake Michigan. In fact, only a handful of days were dedicated to shooting real Chicago exteriors, with most of the series shot on the opposite side of the globe: Melbourne, Australia.[IF magazine] [NBC Insider]
Star and executive producer Sarah Snook, celebrated for her work on “Succession,” returned to her native Australia for this production—sleeping in her own bed while “living” in fictional Chicago. The creative team leveraged both location-matching and high-tech visual effects to seamlessly blend scenes from Melbourne’s Docklands Studios and its city neighborhoods with Chicago’s distinct skyline.[The Hollywood Reporter]
The Real Reasons: Incentives, Innovation, and Environmental Impact
Why this globetrotting production approach? The producers were driven by more than creative vision. Australia’s lucrative tax breaks and state support through the Victorian Screen Incentive made filming in Melbourne both financially and logistically attractive.[VicScreen]
But for Snook, location had a deeply personal value: having just come off a Tony-winning stage run and entering a new phase of life as a mother, the proximity of home allowed her to produce and star without sacrificing family stability.[news.com.au]
The show further set itself apart with strong environmental commitments. Reusable sets, electric vehicles, and the use of alternative fuels for trucks were all championed by Snook, making All Her Fault a rare example of sustainable, large-scale TV production.[The Hollywood Reporter]
Chicago or Melbourne? The Fan Perspective
For passionate fans and detail-spotters, the reveal that most of the series was not filmed in Chicago may come as a shock—but it’s also a powerful testament to the state of modern TV production. Viewers point out the genuine presence of Chicago’s Cloud Gate and Riverwalk, yet much of the iconic marathon, the city’s energy, and even residential scenes were actually shot in Melbourne suburbs like Elwood and at Docklands Studios.[NBC Insider]
Fan forums and social media lit up with theories: could eagle-eyed viewers spot “tell-tale” Australia in the backgrounds, or did digital magic erase the difference? For many, the answer came only after cast interviews and behind-the-scenes features confirmed how international the workflow really was.
- Melbourne’s Point Ormond Reserve doubled as the shores of Lake Michigan.
- The Chicago Marathon was recreated entirely on location in Melbourne.
- Exteriors with Dakota Fanning in Chicago were shot over an intense two-day schedule.
What This Means For TV: The Rise of the Global Soundstage
All Her Fault is more than an adaptation or a genre thriller—it’s a template for what global TV can do in 2025. The series reveals how location, thanks to both incentives and technical artistry, is now more suggestion than straight-up reality. The result: audiences are left questioning what they’re seeing—and applauding the skills that made it so convincing.[People]
The Takeaway for Viewers and Fans
For fans of Andrea Mara’s original book and new audiences alike, the truth about All Her Fault’s locations only deepens appreciation for the artistry and ambition behind the series. In a time when authenticity is both demanded and deceived, the show’s global story—and the team’s transparency in discussing its production—sets a new standard for how entertainment can bridge continents and narratives.
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