Prime Video’s heist comedy thriller Masterplan was filmed on location across France and Italy, utilizing world-famous heritage landmarks in Paris, Rome, and the resort shores of Lake Como. Directed by Thomas Vincent and starring Stanley Tucci, Simona Tabasco, and Victor Belmondo, the international production mounted an ambitious European shoot between October 2025 and December 2025. Here is the complete guide to every verified filming location across France and Italy.
Written by Thomas Vincent and David Wolstencroft, the movie centers on Roger, a legendary retired thief who plans to steal Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa from the Louvre Museum. To pull off the audacious caper, he enlists two young specialists, only to stun them with the revelation that he is their estranged biological father. Behind the globe-trotting narrative, Gaumont and Amazon MGM Studios collaborated with local French and Italian film commissions to secure rare permits for actual historic sites.
Quick Facts on Filming Locations
| Scene or Setting | Location | Area | Details from Set |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louvre Heist Planning and Exterior | Musée du Louvre | 1st Arrondissement, Paris, France | Exterior courtyards and facades of the world’s largest art museum provided authentic backdrops for perimeter reconnaissance. |
| Church Reconnaissance and Rendezvous | Church of Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois | 2 Place du Louvre, Paris, France | The 12th-century Roman Catholic parish church situated directly opposite the Louvre served as a covert planning outpost. |
| Tactical Street Pursuit | Rue de l’Amiral de Coligny | 1st Arrondissement, Paris, France | Classical street adjoining the Louvre hosted high-energy tactical vehicle choreography and technical support setups. |
| Pedestrian Bridge Lookout | Pont des Arts | River Seine, Paris, France | Famous pedestrian footbridge connecting the Louvre to the Institut de France provided panoramic river views for surveillance scenes. |
| Rome Strategy Session | Capitoline Hill and Piazza del Campidoglio | Rome, Italy | Michelangelo’s celebrated Renaissance piazza on the Capitoline summit hosted outdoor dialogue between Roger and Chiara. |
| Monument Exterior Standoff | Victor Emmanuel II National Monument | Piazza Venezia, Rome, Italy | The colossal white marble landmark, also known as the Altare della Patria, provided an imposing backdrop for Italian chase scenes. |
| Luxury Safehouse Retreat | Villa Bonomi | Via Bignanico 65, Como, Italy | Exclusive Lake Como resort estate featuring 11 luxury suites and four acres of gardens served as Roger’s private sanctuary. |
Where was Masterplan filmed?
Masterplan was filmed primarily on location in Paris, France, followed by extensive shooting in Rome and the historic lakefront city of Como in northern Italy. Rather than relying solely on computer-generated imagery or studio backlots, the production team took advantage of authentic European urban architecture to heighten the reality of the heist. Cast and crew members moved between Parisian plazas and Roman hills over the course of eight intense weeks.
Musée du Louvre in Paris, France
The iconic Musée du Louvre in the 1st arrondissement of Paris anchors the core narrative of Masterplan. Because the film’s central plot revolves around stealing the Mona Lisa, director Thomas Vincent brought cameras straight to the historic palace grounds on the Right Bank of the River Seine. The crew filmed key exterior shots around the Cour Carrée and the world-renowned glass pyramid designed by I.M. Pei.
While the film uses real outdoor perspectives of the museum to ground the caper in reality, security regulations naturally prevented the crew from staging chaotic demolition stunts inside the actual painting galleries. To capture the heist’s intricate interior mechanics, designers reconstructed portions of the museum’s interior galleries on soundstages, seamlessly blending practical studio sets with authentic exterior palace photography.
Church of Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois and Rue de l’Amiral de Coligny
The production set up camera rigs directly across from the Louvre at the Church of Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois, located at 2 Place du Louvre. With foundations dating back to the 7th century and Gothic architecture refined during the 12th through 15th centuries, the historic church provided a moody, atmospheric backdrop for private rendezvous between Roger and his newly recruited children.
Immediately adjacent to the church, crew members staged logistical vehicle operations along the Rue de l’Amiral de Coligny. This classical Parisian thoroughfare borders the eastern colonnade of the Louvre Palace, allowing the production to capture dramatic pursuit setups without leaving the historic heart of the French capital.
Pont des Arts on the River Seine
Several memorable dialogue and surveillance moments were lensed on the Pont des Arts, the famed pedestrian footbridge spanning the River Seine. Connecting the Institut de France to the central courtyards of the Palais du Louvre, the wooden bridge offered sweeping views of the Île de la Cité and passing river barges. The bridge serves as a natural lookout point in the film where the characters monitor police activity around the museum perimeter.
Capitoline Hill and Piazza del Campidoglio in Rome, Italy
Moving south to Italy, the production took over portions of the Capitoline Hill in Rome, focusing specifically on the majestic Piazza del Campidoglio. Designed by Michelangelo Buonarroti in the 16th century, the trapezoidal square features an intricate geometric pavement and statues of the twins Castor and Pollux. In the movie, this historic public space serves as a scenic staging ground where Chiara tests encrypted communications and debates the ethics of their father’s grand scheme.
Victor Emmanuel II National Monument in Rome
Additional Roman exterior sequences were staged around the Victor Emmanuel II National Monument, known locally as the Altare della Patria. Situated prominently between Piazza Venezia and the Capitoline Hill, the monumental white marble complex provided an imposing architectural scale for high-speed tracking shots and foot chases through the city’s ancient core. Viewers can also spot glimpse views of the Colosseum, the Pantheon, and Castel Sant’Angelo during establishing transitions.
Villa Bonomi at Lake Como, Italy
For the luxurious hideaway sequences where the heist crew reassembles and celebrates their breakthroughs, the filmmakers traveled north to Lake Como. The crew booked Villa Bonomi, an exclusive private estate situated at Via Bignanico 65 in the municipality of Como. Positioned along the southwestern arm of the lake, the property features eleven designer suites and four acres of terraced gardens designed by famed landscape architect Pietro Porcinai.
The secluded estate gave the production a breathtaking visual contrast to the busy streets of Paris and Rome. With Lake Como’s calm waters and steep alpine slopes visible in the distance, Villa Bonomi serves as the perfect playground for a veteran master thief with exquisite taste and deep pockets.
Did they film Masterplan on location or in a studio?
Masterplan utilized a hybrid production approach, shooting all major exterior scenes on location in Paris, Rome, and Como while constructing complex heist interiors on European soundstages. High-profile international landmarks like the Louvre and the Capitoline Hill welcomed practical film crews for establishing vistas and street chases. However, sensitive vault breaches, laser grids, and high-tech subterranean tunnels were constructed within controlled studio environments to ensure safety and total lighting control.
When did filming take place for Masterplan?
Principal photography for Masterplan began in October 2025 and concluded in December 2025 after roughly eight weeks of shooting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can tourists visit the filming locations of Masterplan?
Yes, all primary exterior destinations including the Louvre courtyards, the Pont des Arts, and the Piazza del Campidoglio in Rome are fully open to the public daily.
Was Masterplan filmed inside the actual Louvre Museum?
No, the production lensed only exterior sequences around the Louvre courtyards, while the interior gallery scenes and vaults were recreated on European soundstages.
Can you stay at Villa Bonomi in Lake Como?
Yes, Villa Bonomi operates as an ultra-luxury private rental and event venue available for private bookings, weddings, and exclusive holidays.
Did you recognize your favorite European landmarks in Masterplan on Prime Video? Let us know what you thought in the comments below!
