Scouting the Real-Life Wonders Behind Wonder Woman’s Themyscira
One of the coolest parts of working on Warner Bros.’ Wonder Woman was helping bring to life the mythical island nation of Themyscira — the lush, sacred home of the Amazons and Wonder Woman’s birthplace.
In the DC comics, Themyscira is not just a city but an entire archipelago known as the Paradise Islands. Its name comes from the ancient Greek mythological city of Themiscyra, home to the legendary Amazon tribe. This blend of myth and modern storytelling created a unique challenge for the film’s production team.
My role was to research, plan, and scout some of China’s most remote and breathtaking locations to find the real-world landscapes that could be stitched together to create Themyscira on screen. Once we found these spots, I photographed them in ultra-high definition so the visual effects team could seamlessly insert them into the movie’s digital world.
Tracking down these hidden natural wonders was an unforgettable adventure. These places, full of wild beauty and ancient mystery, became the perfect foundation for the legendary Amazon paradise. Seeing them transformed on the big screen was truly rewarding.
Director: Patty Jenkins
Production Designer: Aline Bonetto
Studio: Warner Bros.
Starring: Gal Gadot & Chris Pine
Locations: London, Italy & China
Location Brief: Paradise elements across rural China
Here is a selection of my original scout photos for the film:
This is how Themyscira looked in the film:
Film Trailer:
