Wartburg, a premier senior care and housing provider, recently served as the backdrop for filming CBS’s hit drama FBI: Most Wanted. Various locations across Wartburg’s picturesque 34-acre campus were featured in the production, with the episodes set to air in the upcoming season.
Over multiple days this past fall—and again more recently—Wartburg welcomed the cast and crew of FBI: Most Wanted, including stars Dylan McDermott, Keisha Castle-Hughes, and Roxy Sternberg, along with more than 100 crew members and extras. Wartburg’s campus was transformed into a multi-location set, providing a dynamic and visually compelling environment for the show’s high-stakes storytelling.
FBI: Most Wanted follows Special Agent Remy Scott (played by McDermott) and his elite fugitive task force as they relentlessly track down the country’s most dangerous criminals.
“Wartburg’s ability to offer a blend of modern and historic architecture, coupled with our expansive green spaces, has long made it an attractive location for film and photography,” said Wartburg President & CEO David J. Gentner EdD. “The cast and crew of FBI: Most Wanted were fantastic to work with, engaging respectfully with our staff and residents. It was incredible to witness the behind-the-scenes process of a television production—especially with Wartburg’s campus playing a key role in bringing their story to life.”
Wartburg has increasingly become a sought-after destination for film and television productions. In the past year alone, the campus has hosted crews from NBC’s Manifest, CBS’s Evil, and Starz’s Power Book III: Raising Kanan. Its distinctive setting, versatile interiors, and welcoming environment have solidified its reputation as a go-to location for the local film community. Wartburg has been used by several productions for filming including “Madam Secretary “ (CBS), “FBI: Most Wanted” (CBS) and “Manifest” (Netflix).
When Manifest shot there in 2017, the production transformed the nursing home into a detention center for holding refugees. “Madam Secretary” utilized the entire campus, using it to stand in for a college hosting a convention. Both productions took advantage of the wide-open spaces on the property to accommodate production needs including craft services for the cast and crew and parking for large trucks.
“We do everything we can to work with productions to make things go as smoothly as possible,” notes Cappa-Rotunno.“We work both as a film location and as a base camp, making it very convenient and economical for productions.”
Filming offers benefits for the Wartburg, too. “Our senior residents get very excited to be a part of the action, which becomes an enrichment opportunity for them,” says Cappa-Rotunno. “We’re thrilled to welcome the industry as it raises our visibility in the community.”
