On Monday, passersby in front of the Esplanade Hotel could see barricades, sandbags, and extras in uniforms with Ukrainian insignia. This is the Hollywood production 'Snake Island' starring Adrien Brody and Sean Penn.
Zagreb residents were greeted by an unusual sight in the city center on Monday, August 10, 2026. Armed men in Ukrainian military uniforms stood in front of the Esplanade Hotel, with barricades and sandbags lined up along Mihanovićeva Street. The dramatic scenes, which briefly transformed the capital's daily life into a war zone, were actually part of the set for the Hollywood thriller 'Snake Island,' directed by Doug Liman.
At the filming location in front of the prestigious hotel, two-time Oscar winner Adrien Brody was photographed, and legendary Sean Penn also appeared on set during the day. Passersby thus had the opportunity to witness firsthand the filming of a high-budget movie that has been in active production since last month, i.e., July 2026.
The film 'Snake Island' will tackle one of the greatest mysteries of modern warfare, the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea. Recall that on September 26, 2022, six months after the start of the war in Ukraine, a series of underwater explosions caused gas leaks from three of the four pipes, rendering them unusable.
The identity of those responsible for this act of sabotage remains a point of contention. German prosecutors have accused a former Ukrainian military officer, and intelligence suggests that multiple individuals were involved. According to the synopsis of Liman's film, the focus will be on the secret team of Ukrainian divers behind the sabotage.
Although the film is already actively shooting on Zagreb's streets, its release date has not yet been announced. Judging by the assembled cast and the intriguing topic that captivates the world's attention, 'Snake Island' could become one of the more notable film titles in the coming period.
