‘American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez’ is a show created by Stuart Zicherman. It tells the story of Aaron Hernandez, a talented football player who played for the New England Patriots. But his troubled past and injuries led him down a dark path, which ended in murder. This show is based on the podcast Gladiator: Aaron Hernandez and Football Inc., made by The Boston Globe and Wondery. It follows Hernandez’s life, from his childhood to his time in football, and finally, his time in prison. Many people wonder where the show was filmed, so let’s take a look at the main filming locations.
Where was American Sports Story Aaron Hernandez filmed?
The first season of American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez was filmed in many places, especially in New Jersey. Some scenes were also shot in Orlando, Florida. The filming started on April 3, 2023, but it was paused in July 2023 due to the SAG-AFTRA strike. After the strike ended, filming continued in December 2023 and finished in March 2024. Josh Rivera, who played Aaron Hernandez, worked hard for the role by training and gaining 30 pounds of muscle. He also had temporary tattoos applied before every shoot, which took two hours to finish.
Essex County, New Jersey
A large part of the show was filmed in Essex County, New Jersey. The production team used a big studio space of 65,000 square feet to build many sets. These sets were used to show different places in the story, like Aaron Hernandez’s childhood home, the courtroom for his trial, and even the prison where he spent his final days. One emotional scene where Aaron talks to Lindsay Mendez through a glass window was filmed on this set. Apart from the studio, the team also filmed at around 100 other locations in Essex County.
Tinton Falls, New Jersey
Another key location for the show was Tinton Falls, New Jersey. In June 2023, the crew filmed at Capelli Sport Complex on Wayside Road. This place had indoor and outdoor fields, which were used to show some of the football matches and training scenes. The complex has a big air dome with a synthetic grass field inside, as well as courts for different sports like volleyball and basketball. The filming team made use of both the indoor and outdoor areas of this complex.
Morristown, New Jersey
The team also went to Morristown, New Jersey, for filming in June 2023 and January 2024. They filmed inside Roots Steakhouse, which is located at 40 West Park Place in Downtown Morristown. This elegant restaurant gave a nice, traditional setting for some of the scenes. Morristown is a quiet town close to big cities like Jersey City, which made it easy for the film crew to shoot without many problems. The town’s peaceful streets and suburban feel made it a good place for filming. Morristown has been used in other films too, like Our Man From Jersey and A Good Person.
Orlando, Florida
The last part of filming took place in Orlando, Florida. The crew filmed at the Camping World Stadium, which acted as the Gillette Stadium, where Aaron Hernandez played. This stadium, also known as the Tangerine Bowl, is located at 1 Citrus Bowl Place. More than 500 people, including background actors, were involved in filming the stadium scenes. This stadium has been used in other movies as well, such as The Waterboy, which starred Adam Sandler.
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – American Sports Story Aaron Hernandez
Q: Where was American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez filmed?
A: American Sports Story Aaron Hernandez was filmed mainly in New Jersey, including Essex County, Tinton Falls, and Morristown. Some scenes were also shot in Orlando, Florida, at locations like the Camping World Stadium.
Q: When was American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez filmed?
A: Filming began on April 3, 2023, but was paused due to the SAG-AFTRA strike in July 2023. It resumed in December 2023 and finished in early March 2024.
Q: When is the release date of American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez?
A: American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez was released on September 17, 2024.
Q: Who is in the cast of American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez?
A: Josh Rivera stars as Aaron Hernandez. The show also features other key actors, though the full cast list will be revealed closer to the release date.
Q: What is American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez about?
A: The show focuses on the life of Aaron Hernandez, a former New England Patriots football player whose troubled past and injuries led him down a dark path, eventually ending in murder and imprisonment. It is based on the Gladiator podcast by The Boston Globe and Wondery.
