Where was The Beastmaster filmed? Explore the wild California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, San Diego, and Queensland locations behind the cult fantasy franchise.
The Beastmaster franchise turns deserts, forests, lakes, canyons, and tropical wilderness into one gloriously weird fantasy playground.
The original stars Marc Singer as Dar, Tanya Roberts as Kiri, Rip Torn as the wonderfully sinister Maax, and John Amos as Seth. It was directed by Don Coscarelli and loosely inspired by Andre Norton‘s 1959 science-fiction novel, The Beast Master.
The original 1982 cult classic was filmed primarily in California and Nevada, while its sequels expanded into Utah, Arizona, and San Diego, and the later TV series moved production all the way to Queensland, Australia.
And the “black panther” Ruh was actually a Bengal tiger named Kipling, because real panthers were too unpredictable to handle safely on set.
Table of Contents
🎬 The Beastmaster Films in Order
There are three Beastmaster movies and one television series. Here’s the franchise in release order.
- The Beastmaster (1982)
- Beastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time (1991)
- Beastmaster III: The Eye of Braxus (1996)
- Beastmaster TV series (1999-2002)
🐾 Where Was The Beastmaster Filmed?
From California and Nevada to Utah, Arizona, and Australia, the Beastmaster franchise found fantasy landscapes everywhere from American deserts to the tropical Gold Coast.
🐅 The Beastmaster (1982)
From California‘s wilderness to Nevada’s red rocks, The Beastmaster (1982) made North America do plenty of fantasy heavy lifting.
Simi Valley provided vast wilderness and kingdom exteriors, including a roughly 3,000-acre Union Oil Company property that convincingly passes for a sword-filled fantasy realm.
Lake Piru and the surrounding Los Padres National Forest supplied greener, more secluded wilderness, with wooded shores and rugged scenery contrasting the desert locations.
Valley of Fire State Park delivered the movie’s unmistakable red-rock landscapes. Rainbow Vista was also used for the film’s ending, proving that sometimes nature does most of the special effects work.
Malibu Creek State Park provided more California wilderness, including Kiri’s memorable bathing scene. Its rocky terrain, woodland, and open landscapes made a handy fantasy stand-in.
North Hollywood handled the less glamorous side of production. A former toy warehouse became the interior location, because even fantasy kingdoms need warehouse space.
What was filmed here:
- Simi Valley: Major wilderness and kingdom exteriors.
- Lake Piru: Forest, water, and wilderness sequences.
- Valley of Fire State Park: Desert landscapes and finale.
- Rainbow Vista: Dramatic ending sequence.
- Malibu Creek State Park: Kiri’s bathing scene.
- North Hollywood: Interior and warehouse sequences.
What to see & do here:
- Santa Susana Mountains: Scenic hiking and mountain views.
- Simi Valley trails: Hike through rugged California landscapes.
- Ronald Reagan Library & Museum: Step into presidential history.
- Lake Piru recreational areas: Enjoy boating, fishing, and camping.
- Ojai Valley: Explore the trails of the Valley of the Moon.
- Valley of Fire Tour: 40,000 acres of Aztec sandstones.
- Fire Wave Trail: Hike through colorful sandstone formations.
- Malibu Creek trails: Hike through varied filming landscapes.
- Old MASH filming site: Visit a famous TV location.
- Santa Monica Mountains: Explore trails and coastal wilderness.
- NoHo arts district: Browse theaters, galleries, and restaurants.
- El Capitan Theatre: Catch performances in historic surroundings.
⏳ Beastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time (1991)
The sequel, Beastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time (1991), kept the fantasy landscapes but added one major complication – Dar had to deal with modern Los Angeles, too.
Glen Canyon, Utah supplied sweeping desert landscapes for Dar’s fantasy-world adventures. Its sandstone cliffs and vast scenery handle most of the world-building themselves. The almost-too-perfect-to-be-real walls of Antelope Canyon, Arizona, saved the production some set-design work.
Grand Canyon, Arizona added another enormous slice of American wilderness to Dar’s increasingly complicated journey. Los Angeles and Canoga Park, California take over when Dar travels through the portal into the modern world, replacing swords and sorcery with cars, streets, and technology.
What was filmed here:
- Glen Canyon: Ancient fantasy-world landscapes.
- Antelope Canyon: Desert canyon fantasy sequences.
- Grand Canyon: Additional desert fantasy footage.
- Los Angeles: Modern-world urban sequences.
- Canoga Park: Contemporary California scenes.
What to see & do here:
- Glen Canyon Dam: Tour a major desert landmark.
- Lake Powell: Explore the lake by boat.
- Antelope Canyon: Take a guided canyon tour.
- Horseshoe Bend: See the Colorado River viewpoint.
- Grand Canyon South Rim: Explore classic canyon viewpoints.
- South Rim Trail: Walk along the canyon edge.
- Griffith Observatory: See panoramic Los Angeles views.
- Universal Studios Hollywood: Explore movie-themed attractions.
- Downtown Los Angeles: Discover museums and architecture.
👁️ Beastmaster III: The Eye of Braxus (1996)
The third movie, Beastmaster III: The Eye of Braxus (1996), kept production largely in Southern California, with the greater San Diego area standing in for the fantasy realm of Agon.
San Diego, California provided the rugged outdoor landscapes for Dar’s battles with Lord Agon and his rescue of King Tal, while Stu Segall Studios supplied the indoor production base and sets.
Props from the production are also preserved at Studio Diner, next to the former studio lot.
What was filmed here:
- San Diego: Fantasy landscapes and action scenes.
- Stu Segall Studios: Interior sets and action sequences.
What to see & do here:
- Balboa Park: Explore museums, gardens, and architecture.
- Cabrillo National Monument: Enjoy harbor and coastal views.
- La Jolla Cove: Walk or go kayaking along the scenic coastline.
- USS Midway Museum: Explore the historic aircraft carrier.
- Top Gun Movie Tour: Discover the iconic movie locations.
- Gaslamp Quarter: Wander San Diego’s historic entertainment district.
🌴 Beastmaster TV series (1999–2002)
The Beastmaster TV series (1999–2002) gave the franchise a major change of scenery, moving production to Australia’s Gold Coast that provided tropical forests, rivers, rugged countryside, and coastal landscapes for the fantasy world.
The series ran for three seasons and 66 episodes, with Daniel Goddard taking over as Dar from Marc Singer, who later returned in a recurring role as Dartanus, Dar’s spirit warrior and mentor
Village Roadshow Studios, Oxenford served as the studio base for sets and interior sequences. The Gold Coast facility has hosted numerous film and television productions, including The Lost World.
What was filmed here:
- Gold Coast, Queensland: Wilderness and fantasy landscapes.
- Village Roadshow Studios: Sets and studio sequences.
What to see & do here:
- Lamington National Park: Hike through ancient rainforest.
- Springbrook National Park: Explore waterfalls and mountain scenery.
- Byron Bay & Burleigh Heads: Explore the coastal headland.
- Warner Bros. Movie World: Visit Australia’s movie theme park.
- Paradise Country: Experience life on an authentic Aussie Farm.
- Oxenford: Cruise along the studio’s Gold Coast surroundings.
🐯 The Beastmaster FAQs
These are the questions likely to send a fantasy nerd down a three-hour rabbit hole.
Was The Beastmaster based on a book?
Yes. The movie was very loosely inspired by Andre Norton‘s 1959 science-fiction novel, The Beast Master, although the film transformed its science-fiction premise into sword-and-sorcery fantasy.
Here are the Beastmaster books in order:
- The Beast Master (1959) by Andre Norton
- Lord of Thunder (1962) by Andre Norton
- Beast Master’s Ark (2002) by Andre Norton & Lyn McConchie
- Beast Master’s Circus (2004) by Andre Norton & Lyn McConchie
- Beast Master’s Quest (2006) by Andre Norton & Lyn McConchie
What is The Beastmaster about?
Dar is a warrior who can communicate telepathically with animals and sets out for revenge after his village is destroyed, eventually battling the evil high priest Maax.
What animals does Dar communicate with?
Dar‘s companions include Sharak the eagle, Ruh the black “panther,” and the ferrets Kodo and Podo. Their abilities range from aerial scouting and shared vision to infiltration, theft, and distracting enemies.
Who played Dar in the Beastmaster movies?
Marc Singer played Dar in all three Beastmaster movies, while Daniel Goddard took over the role for the 1999–2002 television series.
Who played Dar in the Beastmaster TV series?
Daniel Goddard played Dar throughout the 1999–2002 series, appearing in all 66 episodes.
Who played Kiri in The Beastmaster?
Tanya Roberts played Kiri, Dar‘s love interest in the original 1982 movie.
Was The Beastmaster’s panther real?
The “black panther” Ruh was actually a Bengal tiger named Kipling, which was dyed black with non-toxic, vegetable-based dye for the role.
Who was in The Beastmaster cast?
The Beastmaster cast:
- Marc Singer: Dar
- Tanya Roberts: Kiri
- Rip Torn: Maax
- John Amos: Seth
- Joshua Milrad: Tal
- Rod Loomis: Zed
Beastmaster 2 cast:
- Marc Singer: Dar
- Kari Wuhrer: Jackie Trent
- Sarah Douglas: Lyranna
- Wings Hauser: Arklon
- James Avery: Wendel
Beastmaster III cast:
- Marc Singer: Dar
- Tony Todd: Agon
- Casper Van Dien: King Tal
- Lesley-Anne Down: Morgana
- Sandra Hess: Shada
BeastMaster series cast:
- Daniel Goddard: Dar
- Jackson Raine: Tao
- Steven Grives: King Zad
- Marjean Holden: Ruh
- Natalie Mendoza: Kyra
- Marc Singer: Dartanus
What happened to Kodo and Podo?
Podo dies in the first movie, while her offspring continue the ferret tradition in the sequels. The television series renamed the pair Codo and Hodo and leaned even harder into their mischievous intelligence.
What happened to Ruh in the TV series?
In the Beastmaster TV series, Ruh became Ru, and they dropped the black dye so the character appeared as a natural orange Bengal tiger.
What happened to Sharak in the TV series?
Sharak became Shurak, with the series relying on real footage, stock aerial material, and early CGI to portray the eagle and Dar‘s shared vision.
Is Ultimate Beastmaster connected to The Beastmaster?
No. Ultimate Beastmaster is an unrelated Netflix international sports-entertainment competition created by Dave Broome and executive produced by Sylvester Stallone.
What are some movies like The Beastmaster?
- Conan the Barbarian movies: Muscle, magic, steel, and vengeance
- The Scorpion King movies: Desert warriors, kingdoms, monsters, and magic
- The Sword and the Sorcerer (1982): Swords, sorcery, castles, and chaos.
- Red Sonja (1985): Warriors, sorcery, kingdoms, and revenge.
- Krull (1983): Aliens, castles, magic, and monsters.
📺 Where to Watch The Beastmaster
Here’s where you can access the Beastmaster films, from the 1982 cult classic to the sequels and TV series.
- ➡️ The Beastmaster (1982)
- ➡️ Beastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time (1991)
- ➡️ Beastmaster III: The Eye of Braxus (1996)
- ➡️ Beastmaster TV series (1999–2002)
From Simi Valley and Valley of Fire to Queensland‘s tropical wilderness, The Beastmaster franchise proves that with enough rocks, forests, deserts, and one unusually committed tiger, almost anywhere can become a sword-and-sorcery kingdom.
Disclaimer: This fan-created article is provided for entertainment purposes only. We don’t guarantee the accuracy of any of these facts and don’t recommend making important life decisions based on them. All referenced titles, names, and related intellectual property are the property of their respective owners. No copyright infringement is intended.
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