Apple TV+ series Lucky, starring Anya Taylor-Joy, uses filming locations in Las Vegas and southern California to build its crime drama world. The show, based on Marissa Stapley’s bestseller of the same name, started streaming on 15 July 2026.
The story follows Lucky, a woman trying to leave her criminal past behind and start over. A failed multimillion-dollar heist forces her back on the run, with the FBI and a ruthless crime boss both in pursuit.
The production filmed in four main areas: the Las Vegas Strip and Caesars Palace, plus Long Beach, Simi Valley and Piru in California. The locations were chosen to match the series’ urban mood, casino backdrop and chase scenes.
Las Vegas plays a central role in the opening episodes. Some key scenes, including Lucky running across rooftops while being chased by her husband, played by Drew Starkey, were shot with views over the Las Vegas Strip. The Strip stretches through Paradise and Winchester and is home to many of the city’s biggest hotels.
According to the article, the most widely cited figures say 19 of the world’s 25 largest hotels are on the Strip. It is also described as having more than 65,000 rooms, underlining its scale as a tourism and entertainment hub. The setting reinforces the series’ links to wealth, nightlife and high-stakes gambling.
One of the best-known filming spots is Caesars Palace, the long-running hotel and casino on Las Vegas Boulevard South. Built in a Roman style, it includes a small Colosseum that was created in the early 2000s for Celine Dion’s A New Day residency show. Over the years, artists including Elton John, Cher and Adele have also performed there.
Caesars Palace has also hosted major sporting events, especially wrestling, and held Formula 1 Grands Prix in 1981 and 1982. The parking area even includes a racing circuit, adding to its reputation as one of Las Vegas’s most recognisable venues.
In southern California, Long Beach doubles for San Diego in parts of the series. Production used police cars with the city’s emblem and name, along with other details designed to make the location look like a different place on screen. Much of the filming focused on the Promenade waterfront area, which attracts both locals and tourists.
Long Beach offers a classic California backdrop, with palm trees, ocean views and modern buildings. The city is also home to the Aquarium of the Pacific and Rainbow Harbor, where visitors can relax, fish, take a picnic or, with luck, spot whales. Its lighthouse is another well-known landmark.
Elsewhere, the production used Simi Valley for exterior scenes that show Lucky on the move again. The area mixes small towns, green spaces and scenic trails, making it a practical stand-in for open-road escape sequences. Film and television fans may recognise the Big Sky Movie Ranch, which has appeared in many productions over the years.
Piru also features in the series. The small California town, with its wide streets and low-rise buildings, is often used by filmmakers because it can pass for many places across the United States. Nearby attractions include Piru Lake and, for shooting sports enthusiasts, the California Tactical Academy, described as the largest outdoor shooting range in the Los Angeles area.
Lucky is the latest major screen adaptation for Anya Taylor-Joy, who was previously widely known for The Queen’s Gambit. The article positions the show’s locations as part of its appeal, combining casino glamour, coastal California scenery and rural escape routes to support the plot’s mix of suspense and movement.
