Why Morocco is Africa's little Hollywood

By Sophie Morlin-Yron, CNN

Updated 1200 GMT (2000 HKT) January 6, 2017

Morocco's film studios and vibrant cities are often used as a backdrop for Hollywood films set in the desert, the Middle East and Asia. Pictured: Tom Hanks in "A Hologram for the King", in which Morocco doubled for Saudi Arabia.
Photos: On set in Africa's little Hollywood
Morocco's film studios and vibrant cities are often used as a backdrop for Hollywood films set in the desert, the Middle East and Asia. Pictured: Tom Hanks in "A Hologram for the King", in which Morocco doubled for Saudi Arabia.
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Parts of HBO television series "Game of Thrones" were filmed in Ouarzazate, a city in south central Morocco known as "the door to the desert".
Photos: On set in Africa's little Hollywood
Game of Thrones – Parts of HBO television series "Game of Thrones" were filmed in Ouarzazate, a city in south central Morocco known as "the door to the desert".
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The past 20 years has seen a rise in films tackling terrorism and other post 9/11 political topics, and many choose to film here. Clint Eastwood's 2014 film "American Sniper", for example, was partly shot in the Moroccan city Salé.
Photos: On set in Africa's little Hollywood
American Sniper – The past 20 years has seen a rise in films tackling terrorism and other post 9/11 political topics, and many choose to film here. Clint Eastwood's 2014 film "American Sniper", for example, was partly shot in the Moroccan city Salé.
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Starring Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller, the film depicts the struggles of a Navy SEAL from Texas who gets deployed to Iraq.
Photos: On set in Africa's little Hollywood
American Sniper – Starring Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller, the film depicts the struggles of a Navy SEAL from Texas who gets deployed to Iraq.
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In his new comedy, "Army of One", Nicolas Cage plays an American civilian who sets off to Pakistan to hunt down Osama Bin Laden, as seen in the newly released <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYsPEl-xOv0" target="_blank">trailer</a>.
Photos: On set in Africa's little Hollywood
Morocco or Pakistan? – In his new comedy, "Army of One", Nicolas Cage plays an American civilian who sets off to Pakistan to hunt down Osama Bin Laden, as seen in the newly released trailer.
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The film was shot earlier this year in the southern Moroccan towns Ouarzazate and Marrakech -- which doubles for Pakistan's capital Islamabad.
Photos: On set in Africa's little Hollywood
Hunting for terrorists – The film was shot earlier this year in the southern Moroccan towns Ouarzazate and Marrakech -- which doubles for Pakistan's capital Islamabad.
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The <a href="https://www.studiosatlas.com/" target="_blank">Atlas Studios</a>, pictured -- near Ouarzazate at the gateway to the Sahara desert -- is one of Morocco's largest and covers more than 322,000 square feet, according to the company.
Photos: On set in Africa's little Hollywood
Gateway to the desert – The Atlas Studios, pictured -- near Ouarzazate at the gateway to the Sahara desert -- is one of Morocco's largest and covers more than 322,000 square feet, according to the company.
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The country's cities are full of narrow streets and buzzing markets which creates a look reminiscent of the middle east.
Photos: On set in Africa's little Hollywood
Narrow streets – The country's cities are full of narrow streets and buzzing markets which creates a look reminiscent of the middle east.
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Also big budget television shows have begun to find their way to the Moroccan studios. Season six of "Homeland", for example, was partly filmed in Morocco this year to recreate a backdrop resembling Abu Dhabi and Israel.
Photos: On set in Africa's little Hollywood
Big budget TV shows – Also big budget television shows have begun to find their way to the Moroccan studios. Season six of "Homeland", for example, was partly filmed in Morocco this year to recreate a backdrop resembling Abu Dhabi and Israel.
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Filmed this year was also season five of the television series Prison Break, called "Prison Break: Sequel", which is released next year. This time, the prison is in Yemen, and the new series was filmed in Casablanca, Ouarzazate and Rabat.
Photos: On set in Africa's little Hollywood
Prison Break: Sequel – Filmed this year was also season five of the television series Prison Break, called "Prison Break: Sequel", which is released next year. This time, the prison is in Yemen, and the new series was filmed in Casablanca, Ouarzazate and Rabat.
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