The series is shot in a disused IKEA store in Burbank, California. Multiple major studios passed on the opportunity to lease out their own studio space due to concerns over how inherently messy the game is.
The lava in "Floor is Lava" isn't actually lava of course, but according to Newsweek, the lava is a mixture of "water, cornstarch, and xanthan gum." ('Floor is Lava' on Netflix: What the Lava is Made Out Of, Newsweek, 6/23/20)
The creators have been avoiding the question, "Where do the contestants go when they fall into the lava?" so much that they didn't answer it in the official video about the show's secrets.
The show's host said, "I've been so fortunate not to fall into lava. But I think that's the real mystery. You know, where do they go?" The creators kept the illusions a secret to improve the viewing experience.
Only years later, a comment from one contestant was found, who answered a commenting question: "a deep abyss haha no they just paused our game to let us get out."
The show's host said, "I've been so fortunate not to fall into lava. But I think that's the real mystery. You know, where do they go?" The creators kept the illusions a secret to improve the viewing experience.
Only years later, a comment from one contestant was found, who answered a commenting question: "a deep abyss haha no they just paused our game to let us get out."
The floor is not actually lava, the crew use a combination of practical effects and computer generated images to produce something comparatively similar.