When something looks and feels like Russia, you might assume it is Russia. But let’s not jump to conclusions just yet.

If you’ve been keeping up with Peacock’s latest spy thriller, Ponies, featuring stars like Emilia Clarke, Haley Lu Richardson, and Vic Michaelis, you might be wondering whether those scenes—particularly the ones seemingly set right outside the Kremlin—were actually shot in Russia.

This fresh series takes us back to 1970s Russia, where two women become spies for the U.S. following the baffling deaths of their CIA husbands. The show convincingly recreates the Soviet Union era, largely due to the remarkable work of the costume and hair departments. However, it’s a collective effort that makes 1977 Russia vividly come alive for viewers.

The question remains: where was Ponies filmed? We have the inside scoop on the filming locations for Peacock’s latest sensation.

Where Was Ponies Filmed?

Although the series is set in Moscow and might seem to have been filmed in Russia, the production actually took place in Budapest, Hungary. Due to understandable concerns, Peacock chose not to film in Russia, opting instead for a safer and more accessible location that still captures the essence of the U.S.S.R.

According to one organization that promotes filming in Hungary, it’s common for shows and movies to film in the country, as Budapest alone can double as pretty much any major city thanks to its nonuniform architecture.

“Budapest’s architectural diversity allows certain areas of the city to convincingly stand in for a wide range of European locations, including Berlin, Paris, Rome, Moscow, Vienna, Saint Petersburg, and even Buenos Aires,” Progressive Productions states on its website.

Notably, films like A Good Day to Die Hard, Red Heat, and Red Sparrow have also used the Hungarian city as a stand-in for Moscow. One key destination used in many major productions set in Budapest is the city’s Museum of Fine Arts, featured behind Ponies star Adrian Lester in the photo below.

When Did They Film Ponies on Peacock?

Surprise surprise, Ponies was not filmed in the 1970s. Hopefully, you already knew that but in case you didn’t, sorry to burst your bubble. In reality, Ponies started filming in February 2025 and wrapped production on location in Budapest in July, according to posts made by the cast and crew.

Around that time, Richardson — who is no stranger to filming in Europe after starring in The White Lotus Season 2 — shared a photo dump from her months of filming abroad, asking her followers to tune into the Peacock series as soon as it releases.

“bye bye boobapest 🥲 pretty please watch our show ponies when it comes out on peacock sometime, someday,” the actress wrote.

The first season of Ponies is now streaming on Peacock.

Peacock currently offers two subscription types: Premium with ads and Premium Plus ad-free. Peacock Premium costs $10.99/month, while Premium Plus costs $16.99/month.

You can save a bit by subscribing to one of Peacock’s annual plans, which give you 12 months for the price of 10. These cost either $109.99 with ads or $169.99 without ads.

Peacock Premium Plus is also available to subscribe to via Prime Video with a seven-day free trial that you can’t get by subscribing directly on Peacock.