The Royal Secret: 5 Surprising Locations Where 'Coming 2 America' Was Actually Filmed

The highly anticipated sequel, Coming 2 America, captivated audiences upon its release on Amazon Prime Video in March 2021, bringing the opulent, fictional African nation of Zamunda back to the screen. But for fans eager to know the real-world geography of Prince Akeem Joffer's journey, the answer is a fascinating secret: the film was not shot in Africa or New York City, but almost entirely in one surprising American state. This deep dive into the filming locations, production secrets, and the incredible design work reveals how Hollywood magic transformed the American South into an African kingdom and the streets of Queens, New York.

As of late 2025, the film remains a massive success for Amazon, and the production stories continue to draw interest, particularly the ingenious ways the creative team—led by director Craig Brewer and star Eddie Murphy—reimagined the world of Zamunda. The entire production was a testament to the growing power of the film industry in the state of Georgia, which served as the primary, and often disguised, backdrop for the royal adventure.

The Heart of Zamunda: Filming Locations in Atlanta, Georgia

While the original 1988 classic, Coming to America, was famously shot in New York and Los Angeles, the sequel, Coming 2 America, was a completely different production. To achieve the grand scale and visual splendor required for the royal return, the entire crew established a base of operations in and around the burgeoning film hub of Atlanta, Georgia.

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The decision to film in Georgia, often dubbed "Y'allywood" due to its generous tax incentives, allowed the production to leverage massive studio space and unique, private estates that could be transformed into the fictional land of Zamunda and the gritty streets of Queens, New York. This strategic move was crucial for recreating the two distinct worlds of the film: the vibrant, wealthy African kingdom and the humble American neighborhood where Akeem's long-lost son, Lavelle Junson, resides.

The Royal Residence: Rick Ross’s Mansion as the Zamunda Palace

The most shocking and publicized filming location is the majestic Zamunda Palace, the home of King Jaffe Joffer and Prince Akeem. The exterior and many key interior scenes were shot at the real-life, sprawling estate of hip-hop mogul Rick Ross (William Leonard Roberts II) in Fayetteville, Georgia.

• Location Address: The mansion is located at 760 GA-279 Old National Highway in Fayetteville, GA.
• Why It Was Chosen: Production designer Jefferson Sage explained that the mansion’s entrance foyer was the perfect feature they needed. It boasts a massive, two-story interior with a stunning double-winding staircase, providing the necessary opulence and scale for a royal residence.
• The Transformation: The production team added their own design elements, including custom-made gold wallpaper, ornate African-inspired décor, and a massive statue of King Jaffe Joffer in the foyer to complete the illusion of Zamunda.

The Production Hub: Tyler Perry Studios (TPS)

While the Rick Ross estate provided the exterior grandeur, the bulk of the interior sets and the elaborate, large-scale scenes were filmed at Tyler Perry Studios (TPS) in Atlanta.

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TPS is one of the largest film production facilities in the United States, offering an expansive lot that was perfect for building the intricate sets required for the sequel. The use of TPS—owned by Tyler Perry, a prominent Black filmmaker—was seen by many as a powerful statement on the growth and independence of Black creators in the film industry.

• Key Sets Built: The soundstages at TPS were used to construct the highly detailed sets for the palace’s dining halls, various royal chambers, and the more fantastical elements of Zamunda.
• A Hollywood Collision: Interestingly, during the filming of Coming 2 America, the sequel to another iconic film, Bad Boys for Life (starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence), was also filming at Tyler Perry Studios, leading to a historic collision of Black Hollywood talent on the same lot.

Recreating Queens, New York, in the South

A significant part of the sequel involves Prince Akeem and his trusted confidante, Semmi (Arsenio Hall), returning to the familiar streets of Queens, New York, to find his son. To maintain the single-location filming strategy, the production team had to meticulously recreate the iconic New York locations entirely in Georgia.

The Legendary My-T-Sharp Barbershop

The beloved My-T-Sharp barbershop, featuring the hilarious, multi-character performances by Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall, was not filmed in Queens. Instead, the entire set was faithfully recreated on a soundstage in Atlanta. The visual effects studio Crafty Apes was brought in to ensure the storefront and the surrounding "urban environs of New York City" looked authentic.

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Production designer Jefferson Sage was tasked with creating two distinct worlds—the opulent Zamunda and the gritty Queens—and he succeeded by using a combination of detailed set construction and subtle visual effects to bridge the geographical gap. The team was focused on honoring the legacy of the original New York locations while shooting efficiently in Georgia.

Other Notable Georgia Filming Spots

Beyond the main studio and the palace, a few other locations in the Atlanta area served as stand-ins for various scenes:

• Akeem Meets Lavelle: The scene where Akeem first meets Lavelle Junson was filmed at a location on Peachtree Street NE in Atlanta.
• The University Campus: Scenes were also shot at the Mercer University Atlanta campus.
• Chamblee: Between August 22 and 23, 2019, crews were spotted filming in the city of Chamblee, Georgia.

The Production Design and Costume Masterpiece

The film’s success in creating a believable and vibrant Zamunda lies in the incredible work of the production team, which provides some of the most fascinating behind-the-scenes details.

The Vision of Jefferson Sage

As the production designer, Jefferson Sage was the architect of the film's visual identity. His challenge was not just to recreate Zamunda, but to modernize it 30 years later. He managed to blend the real-world architecture of the Rick Ross mansion with elaborate, custom-built sets that reflected a more evolved, technologically advanced, and culturally rich Zamunda. His work created the visual foundation for the performances of Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Wesley Snipes (General Izzi), and James Earl Jones (King Jaffe Joffer).

Ruth E. Carter’s 800 Costumes

The visual spectacle of Zamunda was completed by the breathtaking costume work of Oscar-winning designer Ruth E. Carter. Known for her work on *Black Panther*, Carter was tasked with modernizing the royal fashion while paying homage to the original film’s aesthetic.

Carter's team created an astounding 800 different costumes for the film, a massive undertaking that blended traditional African prints and aesthetic traditions with high fashion and modern silhouettes. The vibrant, intricate designs worn by the cast, including Shari Headley (Lisa McDowell), Kiki Layne (Meeza Joffer), and Teyana Taylor (Bopoto), were essential in selling the illusion of a wealthy, culturally sophisticated African kingdom, proving that the magic of Zamunda was truly built in Atlanta.