Deadline’s On Location Goes Behind The Scenes Of ‘Mayans M.C.’

As FX’s Mayans M.C. wraps its final season tonight, Deadline has your exclusive look at the penultimate day of filming in Santa Clarita, California.

As the sets were being broken down to make way for a new production in the future, series co-creator Elgin James celebrated Crew Appreciation Day alongside stars J.D. Pardo, Clayton Cardenas, Carla Baratta, Emilio Rivera, Sarah Bolger, J.R. Bourne, Edward James Olmos, Gino Vento, Emily Tosta, Andrew Jacobs and Alex Barone. Maverick James who played Maverick Reyes, son of Adelita (Baratta) and Angel (Cardenas), was also part of the celebration as was Baratta’s son Diego who was inside her belly during the show’s second season and was worked into the storyline.

For the festivities, the grounds were colorfully decorated and food trucks were serving the hungry and excited masses. Pardo and Rivera hosted a raffle giving away kuttes from both Sons of Anarchy and Mayans M.C. leaving it to the discretion of the winners. Bourne watched with a wide grin as the majority picked Mayans over his SAMCRO.

Other popular items that were up for grabs included masks worn by Los Olvidados, M.C. patches framed and ready to be hung, as well as motorcycle helmets. Although an ice cream truck was on site, the Dominican cake brought by Tosta which was emblazoned with the show’s logo and other pastries was a crowd favorite.

I should note that I visited the set on May 1, the day before the writers strike was announced. Although we had planned to include interviews here from the cast, the WGA is currently on its 79th day and SAG-AFTRA is on its sixth day of striking against the AMPTP for fair wages and AI protections among other important points leaving the writers and actors unable to promote projects. Nevertheless, we’re sharing the photo gallery as a hat tip to a show.

Part of my tour included ample time checking out the motorcycles, which were cared for by picture bike captain, Nico Cope. He worked on the show for all 5 seasons in addition to credits on Peacock’s Mrs. Davis and TNT’s I Am The Night which starred Chris Pine. Much to Alvarez’s chagrin, I found one of his personal bikes stored in Cope’s garage and pretended to take it out for a spin— as if Cope would’ve ever allowed it. In the gallery, there’s a photo of Cope posing with Angel’s bike.

I also got to spend time among all the cool kuttes and threads worn by the cast with a little help from costume supervisor Danny Vick. A box full of motorcycle boots was inside a box to be returned as they were rentals. I attempted to casually walk away wearing someone’s kutte but was told they were all accounted for. 🙁

Just about every important set was still intact except for the inside of Felipe’s house and Coco’s (Richard Cabral) old house where Letty (Tosta) lived with Hope (Vanessa Giselle). The clubhouse was a standout because it was full of little touches not obvious to viewers.

EZ’s trailer, much like the clubhouse, had an exterior look for cameras on the lot and a set inside for the interiors. I checked the kitchen for his one knife, fork and spoon but with Sofia living with him, the silverware was plentiful.

As I walked to the party after the tour, I noticed two women clearing the area of two dead bodies inside their respective body bags. I had no idea how the series would end at the time, but now that I do I’m wondering who all was inside.

Starting tomorrow, all five seasons of FX’s Mayans M.C. will be available via Hulu.