Hey travellers, the news is official: Camila Mendes filming Upgraded 2 in Venice, Italy.
Camila Mendes is currently on the ground in Venice, shooting the highly anticipated sequel Upgraded 2. The actress and producer has been spotted navigating the city's legendary canals, crossing ancient bridges, and working through scenes at some of the most photogenic locations in the world.
Here's everything we know about the production, the cast, the creative team, and why Venice is far more than just a pretty backdrop for this romantic comedy. Let's find out in this ultimate guide by Venice Insider Guide.
Camila Mendes Filming Upgraded 2 in Venice for Amazon MGM Studios
Camila Mendes is in Venice filming the romantic comedy sequel Upgraded 2 for Amazon MGM Studios, with location work centered around the Grand Canal and iconic Venetian landmarks from October 20 to 31, 2026.
Mendes is both starring and producing, reuniting with production partners Gulfstream Pictures and Honor Role, continuing her role as Ana from the 2024 rom com Upgraded.
Filming in Venice has generated fresh paparazzi coverage in the style of Splash News and widespread social media buzz, thanks to on-set photos of Mendes on vaporettos, bridges, and narrow streets.
The sequel picks up Ana's art-world journey in glamorous European settings, with Venice's museums, palazzos, and canals woven into the storyline, including ties to the Venice Biennale.
More casting details, release timing on Prime Video, and full plot information are expected to be revealed later by Amazon MGM Studios, with a 2027 release widely anticipated.
Camila Mendes on Location in Venice for "Upgraded 2"
Picture this: a film crew huddled along a quiet canal-side fondamenta at 8 a.m., cameras angled toward a terrace overlooking the water. Curious tourists slow their pace. A vaporetto idles just out of frame. And at the center of it all stands Camila Mendes, stepping into character as Ana Santos for another chapter of the Upgraded universe.
So, the news is very happy: Camila Mendes filming Upgraded 2 in Venice. Yes! Production for Upgraded 2 began in October 2026, with the Venice shoot scheduled from October 20 to October 31.
That's 12 days of filming across some of the city's most recognizable locations. The production chose Venice after extensive Italy-based preparation, taking advantage of backdrops that include:
- The Grand Canal and Rialto Bridge area (specifically Erbaria)
- Ca' Giustinian, the historic seat of the Biennale
- Palazzo Franchetti and Campo Santo Stefano
- Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo
- Narrow calli near Sant'Aponal and Calle delle Carampane
- Several smaller canals, including Rio di Santa Marina and Rio dell'Orso
Entertainment outlets and paparazzi agencies in the style of Splash News have captured candid shots of the actress in high-fashion looks during filming - chic coats by the water, boarding a vaporetto in oversized sunglasses, and walking through narrow Venetian alleys between takes. Camila Mendes was spotted in high-fashion looks that immediately fueled social media conversation.
Fans have been resharing these on-set images across platforms in posts that have turned "Camila Mendes Venice" and "Upgraded 2 set" into trending search terms. Local Venetians and visiting tourists have occasionally appeared in crowd scenes, giving sequences a natural, lived-in feel rather than the overly staged look that sometimes undercuts rom com authenticity.
Upgraded 2 on Amazon Prime Video: Sequel Details, Cast & Production Team
Upgraded 2 is being developed and produced by Amazon MGM Studios in partnership with Gulfstream Pictures and Honor Role - the production company co-founded by Mendes and Rachel Matthews. This continues the successful collaboration from the original movie, which premiered on Prime Video in February 2024 and quickly became one of the platform's most-watched romantic comedy titles.
Camila Mendes reprises her role as Ana, the ambitious art auction house intern viewers met in the first film. In that movie, a chance flight upgrade led Ana into a world of mistaken identity, high-stakes art deals, and an unexpected romance. It starred Mendes alongside Archie Renaux and featured Marisa Tomei in a scene-stealing supporting role. The original Upgraded was a light, stylish rom com that resonated with audiences who'd grown hungry for the kind of charming escapism that streamers sometimes overlook in favor of prestige dramas starring the likes of Jake Gyllenhaal or Kevin Costner.
For the sequel, Becca Gleason returns to direct. The original film marked something close to a feature directorial debut for Gleason in the streaming space, and her visual eye for European architecture and warm comedic pacing made the first movie click. Writers Luke Roberts and Justin Matthews - who penned the original script - are once again handling the screenplay, which should maintain continuity in humor and character voice.
The sequel shifts Ana's story further into Europe. While specific plot details remain under wraps, what we know is that Upgraded 2 follows Ana as she navigates a new art-related opportunity tied to the Venice Biennale art scene. Think career dilemmas, romantic complications, and cultural clashes - all set against some of the most visually stunning locations on earth. After the Venice leg wraps, production is planned to shift to Rome for approximately 33 additional shooting days, suggesting the story spans multiple Italian cities and possibly touches London or other European locales as part of Ana's expanding professional world.
Mendes's dual role as star and producer is worth noting. It allows her to shape the sequel's female-led narrative and ensures the balance between comedy and heartfelt rom com moments stays true to what made the first film resonate. Since Upgraded, Mendes has continued building a diverse filmography - including Música, which showcased her Brazilian roots and range - and has become part of a generation of actresses alongside peers like Kiernan Shipka, Sarah Pidgeon, and former Riverdale co-star Cole Sprouse who are actively shaping the kinds of stories they want to tell.
A Prime Video release window will likely follow up after Venice filming wraps and post-production schedules are set. The film is expected to release in 2027, though Amazon has yet to comment with an exact date. For a streaming landscape where Paramount and other competitors are also investing in feel-good genre films, Upgraded 2 represents a smart bet on proven IP.
Venice as a Character in the Rom Com Sequel
In Upgraded 2, Venice is treated almost like another character - not just a scenic postcard, but a living, breathing presence that reinforces the glamorous-yet-chaotic world Ana navigates. Director Gleason and her team have been deliberate about using the city's texture rather than simply pointing cameras at pretty views.
Location shooting makes use of classic Venetian imagery in ways that serve the story:
- Gondolas gliding past Mendes during emotional scenes on quiet side canals
- Sunrise establishing shots on the lagoon that set the tone for Ana's new chapter
- Evening sequences in softly lit piazzas like Campo Santo Stefano, where the warm glow of café lights creates natural atmosphere
- Interior scenes filmed inside historic palazzos - repurposed as galleries, auction previews, or exclusive art events - connecting Ana's art-world career arc directly to Venice's cultural heritage
The film's setting ties into the Venice Biennale art scene, which is significant. The Biennale is one of the most prestigious art exhibitions in the world, and by placing Ana within that ecosystem, the script elevates her professional arc beyond the entry-level stakes of the first movie. She's no longer just an intern hoping for a break - she masters a bigger stage. This thematic ambition mirrors what Mendes herself has spoken about in interviews: wanting to play characters who grow, not just repeat.
Venice's maze-like streets and bridges also lend themselves perfectly to rom com staples: chance encounters on a bridge at golden hour, missed connections in crowded campi, comedic chases through narrow calli, and heartfelt conversations on a quiet fondamenta away from the tourist crowds. Reports from the set suggest tightly scheduled night shoots on canals, with Mendes and co-stars filmed on small boats, capturing reflections of city lights on the water - the kind of imagery that will look stunning on screen during a summer evening watch on Prime Video.
But the production beginning in Venice hasn't been without challenges. Filming in the city involves logistical hurdles that most locations simply don't present:
- Equipment transport: Everything - cameras, lighting rigs, wardrobe - moves by boat. No trucks, no vans on Venice's car-free streets.
- Water traffic coordination: Several canals including Rio dell'Orso and Rio di San Vidal faced temporary navigation suspensions during filming windows, sometimes just minutes at a time.
- Tides and weather: Late October in Venice brings the risk of acqua alta (high water), which can flood low-lying areas and disrupt shooting schedules with little warning.
- Heritage restrictions: As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Venice imposes strict rules on lighting intensity, equipment load on ancient structures, and noise levels. The city's Sportello Cinema film office requires permits filed at least 30 days in advance for productions of this scale.
- Crew size: According to Italy For Movies, the Venice segment involves roughly 150 crew members - 30 local and approximately 120 traveling personnel - all of whom need housing, catering, and water-based transportation.
FAQ
Below are answers to common questions about Camila Mendes, the Venice filming, and what's next for the Upgraded 2 movie.
Is Camila Mendes really filming 'Upgraded 2' on location in Venice?
Yes. Scenes for Upgraded 2 are being shot on location in Venice, Italy. Mendes has been spotted around the canals, bridges, and historic buildings as part of the Amazon MGM Studios production. The Venice shoot runs from October 20 to 31, 2026, covering approximately 12 filming days across multiple iconic sites before production moves to Rome for the remainder of the month-long schedule.
When is 'Upgraded 2' expected to be released on Prime Video?
Amazon MGM Studios has not yet announced an exact release date. However, based on the production timeline - filming through December 2026 followed by post-production - the film is widely expected to debut on Prime Video sometime in 2027. Fans should follow up with Amazon's official channels for a confirmed premiere date.
Will Camila Mendes play the same character from the first 'Upgraded'?
Absolutely. Mendes returns as Ana, the driven art auction house intern from the original rom com. The sequel picks up her next chapter as she moves deeper into Europe's art world, with Venice's Biennale scene and the city's cultural landscape playing central roles in both her career trajectory and romantic complications.
Who is producing and directing 'Upgraded 2'?
The sequel is developed by Amazon MGM Studios, produced alongside Gulfstream Pictures and Honor Role. Camila Mendes serves as both star and producer. Becca Gleason is back in the director's chair after steering the original film, and the script was once again penned by Luke Roberts and Justin Matthews. Additional producers include Piers Tempest of Tempo Production and Lena Roklin of Luber Roklin Entertainment.
Conclusion
So, Camila Mendes filming Upgraded 2 in Venice. And we are very happy!
Filming in Venice is restricted temporarily during production, with pedestrian walkways and boat landings occasionally closed to accommodate scenes. The production utilizes historic landmarks and scenic canals for filming while working closely with local authorities to minimize disruption.
It's a complex dance, but when it works - and the footage hits screens - the result is a visual richness that a soundstage simply cannot replicate.
The fact that the production is underway in a city this logistically demanding speaks to the creative team's commitment. Venice isn't the easy choice. It's the right one.
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