Filming in London and the South East - page 10-11

There were on average over 40
productions shooting in London on
any given day last year. An impressive
number, which seems to have only
gone up in 2014. With the help of
our online database Production
Intelligence, we highlight some of
the productions to look out for in the
coming weeks and months.
First up, and it’s a Hollywood re-
imagining of a very English legend. LA-
based Brit Guy Ritchie is at the helm
of the major feature film, Knights of the
Roundtable: King Arthur. The talent
already on board this Warner Bros
project includes Charlie Hunnam, Idris
Elba and Astrid Berges-Frisbey. Filming
is currently slated for early next year at
Warner Bros’ UK outpost at Leavesden;
Ritchie also produces alongside Lionel
Wigram, Tory Tunnell, Akiva Goldsman
and screenwriter Joby Harold.
Another Hollywood big-hitter next,
Roth Films’ The Huntsman, now setting
up for a spring shoot at Pinewood
Studios. A spin-off from 2010’s Snow
White and The Huntsman, this dark
fairytale focuses on the eponymous,
axe-bearing Eric and the wicked
queen Ravenna – roles reprised by
Chris Hemsworth and Charlize Theron.
Veteran director Frank Darabont is
calling the shots from a screenplay
he wrote with David Koepp and Evan
Spiliotopoulos. Producers are Joe
Roth, Sam Mercer and Palak Patel.
London-born director Tom Hooper
landed himself an Academy Award
in 2010 for what was just his third
feature film, the critically-acclaimed
the King’s Speech, which won four
Oscars and seven BAFTAs. He swiftly
followed this with the much garlanded
Les Misérables, so hopes are high for
The Danish Girl, Hooper’s next project
which he will direct early next year.
The fascinating-sounding film – which
has its production office at Elstree
Studios - is based on the real life story
of Danish painter Einar Wegener. The
artist underwent gender reassignment
surgery and became Lili Elbe; Eddie
Redmayne and Alicia Vikander star. The
feature comes from Working Title Films
and US-based Pretty Pictures with a
screenplay by David Ebershoff and
Lucinda Coxon.
The giant Marvel Studios is firing
blockbusters out thick and fast these
days, with the latest in their canon,
Doctor Strange, heading to a major
South East studio next year – at the
time of going to press it was just a hop
and a skip away from final confirmation.
Scott Derrickson directs, working
alongside Marvel super producer Kevin
Feige, whose credits read like a Burke’s
Peerage of superheroes. Casting
speculation has been feverish already,
with Benedict Cumberbatch leading
the field as favourite to play Sorcerer
Although the nations and regions have been making the news as burgeoning production hubs – and rightly so –
London and the South East remain feverish hives of filming activity, continuing to pull in the big guns and their
spending power, be they driven by UK-based finance or inward investment from overseas.
By Nia daniels
London and the South
east remains a feverish
hive of filming activity,
continuing to pull in the
big guns and their
spending power
Left: Astill of Charlie Hunnman, who will be taking a leading
role in upcoming feature film Knights of the Roundtable.
Right: Will Benedict Cumberbatch shoot his next film in
London?
Industry insight:
Production
Intelligence:
What’sshooting
Supreme Stephen Strange.
Huntsman screenwriter Evan
Spiliotopoulos has been no slouch
recently – he enters our run-down again
as one of the writers behind Disney’s
forthcoming Beauty and the Beast.
The House of Mouse is overseeing the
project, which comes from LA-based
shingle Mandeville Films and which
is in the early stages of bedding in at
Pinewood Studios. Shooting on the
fairy tale is still some months away, with
Bill Condon due to take the director’s
chair as he works from a screenplay by
Spiliotopoulos and Stephen Chbosky.
Producers are Todd Lieberman and
David Hoberman.
Just when you though J.K Rowling
couldn’t get any more prolific, along
comes a trilogy of features based
on her 2001 Harry Potter spin-off
book, Fantastic Beast and Where to
Find Them. The book was the boy
wizard’s textbook, written by a Newt
Scamander. No great surprise that the
films are under the auspices of Warner
Bros, and the first will be heading for
their Leavesden studios some time next
year. David Yates, who has certainly
earned his Harry Potter stripes, is down
to direct.
We couldn’t feature a round-up of
production activity in London and
the South East without a nod to
Bond. Arguably one of cinema’s most
recognisable British icons, the suave
superspy is due to don his tuxedo
for the 24th feature in the behemoth
franchise as filming starts in just a
couple of weeks – the production
will be based at its usual home at
Pinewood Studios, although it is
likely to take in several other global
locations; Rome has been confirmed
so far. Fingers crossed London itself
will continue to provide a vital backdrop
for this most expensive and English of
high-octane thrillers, which welcomes
Sam Mendes back to the director’s
chair.
Staying with UK productions, and
to City of Tiny Lights, which is being
developed at BBC Films. The film is
an adaptation of the book by Patrick
Neate, which centres on Tommy
Akhtar- a private detective in south
west London. Pete Travis (Dredd,
Endgame) directs and Ado Yoshizaki
Cassuto produces. Cameras are due to
start rolling in the spring on this one.
Although not filming exclusively in
London – Paris and Florida are also
being lined up – The Infiltrator will
definitely be using the capital for a
tranche of shooting. From London’s
Good Films, the investigative thriller
is an adaptation of Robert Mazur’s
autobiography and stars Bryan
Cranston. Miriam Segal produces with
Brad Furman at the helm.
So there we have it. Nine lovely
production plums for the coming
months. Now, if only Steven Spielberg
would shoot his adaptation of The BFG
here, we’d have a nice round ten…
Just when you thought the author J.K Rowling couldn’t
get any more prolific, along comes a new trilogy on
her 2001 Harry Potter spin-off book
This coming winter,
Daniel Craig will once
again reprise his role
as James Bond in the
popular 007 franchise.
Five projects filming in
the capital right this
very moment are:
• London Spy
• London Has Fallen
• Now You See Me: The
Second Act
• River
• The Hollow Crown: The
Wars of the Roses
Insider knowledge on these
can be found on Production
Intelligence. For a demo, contact
Matt Wright via email:
The Knowledge
e-guide
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Filming In London and the South East
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