Cinemas are preparing for a series of blockbuster movies over the coming months.
With Hertfordshire boasting a number of major film studios - including Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden near Watford, Elstree Film Studios in Borehamwood, and Hertsmere's new state-of-the-art Sky Studios Elstree - location filming for big budget movies and high-end TV productions often takes place in the county.
Sky, Amazon Studios, Netflix, and Warner Bros. Pictures have all filmed on location in Herts in the past year, with this December's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory movie prequel Wonka, royal drama The Crown, and Romesh Ranganathan and Katherine Ryan comedy-drama series Romantic Getaway among the productions shot in the county.
Knebworth House featured prominently earlier this year in two episodes from season 4 of Netflix serial killer thriller YOU.
Scenes were also filmed at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden on its stages and backlot, as the studios confirmed with a picture of star Penn Badgley, who plays Joe Goldberg, on set.
"We were thrilled to host ‘You’ at #WBSLeavesden, which filmed on our stages and built London on our backlot," the studios also tweeted.
What happens inside the county's film studios is often shrouded in secrecy while the sound stages are in use.
Likewise, popular Hertfordshire filming locations such as Knebworth House and Hatfield House are often unable to comment on what is actually being filmed there at the time due to contractual reasons.
However, despite these confidentiality clauses in contracts, we can reveal that movies such as the tenth instalment of the Fast & Furious franchise, Fast X, Jason Statham's monster shark sequel Meg 2: The Trench, Warner Bros/DC's forthcoming Scarlet Speedster movie The Flash, and even this summer's 'plastic fantastic' Barbie movie were all made in Hertfordshire.
Here are six movies partly shot in Herts and at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden coming to the big screen near you over the coming months.
1. Fast X
Fasten your seatbelts for more full throttle action.
Vin Diesel gets behind the wheel again as Dom Toretto in the latest instalment in the Fast & Furious Saga.
Coming to cinemas on May 19, Fast X launches the final chapters of one of cinema’s most popular global franchises - the previous Fast & Furious films have banked more than $6.6 billion at the box office so far.
While the high-speed action once again hurtles around the world, Fast X - like its predecessor, F9: The Fast Saga - was partly filmed on Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden's stages and backlot in Hertfordshire.
While being based across six stages and the exterior tank at Leavesden, 2021's Fast 9 also saw scenes shot on location at Hertfordshire stately home Hatfield House, where Dom faces off with his then estranged brother, Jakob, played by wrestling legend John Cena.
Of this month's Fast X, Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden posted on social media: "We loved being part of its journey to the big screen @thefastsaga #FilmedAtWBSL #fastandfurious."
A later post read: "We loved being home to the lastest film in @thefastsaga 🏁 This production filmed on a whopping 7 sound stages and turned our backlot into exciting locations."
Fast X sees Dom (Vin Diesel) and his family confront the most lethal opponent they’ve ever faced.
In 2011’s Fast Five, Dom and his crew took out nefarious Brazilian drug kingpin Hernan Reyes, and decapitated his empire on a bridge in Rio De Janeiro.
What they didn’t know was that Reyes’ son, Dante, witnessed it all and has spent the last 12 years masterminding a plan to make Dom pay the ultimate price.
Villain Dante is played by Aquaman’s Jason Momoa, who also starred in Zack Snyder's Justice League - another film made at Leavesden.
Dante’s plot will scatter Dom’s family from Los Angeles to the catacombs of Rome, from Brazil to London, and from Portugal to Antarctica, while scenes were also shot right here in Herts!
Everything changes when Dom discovers that his own eight-year-old son is the ultimate target of Dante’s vengeance.
Directed by Louis Leterrier (Clash of the Titans, The Incredible Hulk) and written by Justin Lin and Dan Mazeau, Fast X stars returning franchise cast members Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jordana Brewster, Sung Kang, Jason Statham, John Cena and Scott Eastwood, along with Oscar winners Helen Mirren and Charlize Theron.
The film also features new cast members Brie Larson as Tess, a rogue representative from the Agency, and Alan Richtson (Reacher) as Aimes, the new head of the Agency who doesn’t hold the same fondness for Dom’s crew as his predecessor, Mr. Nobody.
Daniela Melchior (The Suicide Squad) also plays a Brazilian street racer with a powerful tie to Dom’s past, and legendary Oscar winner Rita Moreno appears as Dom and Mia’s Abuelita Toretto. Also watch out for the return of Dwayne Johnson, The Rock.
"Filmed on our stages and backlot, we cannot wait to see it hit the big screen," posted Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden on Instagram.
2. The Flash
After a series of production delays, multiple reshoots, and off-screen troubles with the lead star, the long-awaited The Flash movie finally arrives in cinemas this June - with scenes again filmed in Hertfordshire.
Ezra Miller stars as Barry Allen, aka The Flash, who pushes the limits of his superpowers in the DC superhero’s first-ever standalone feature film, having previously appeared in Justice League.
The movie was shot on the stages at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, with the Knebworth House estate among the movie's filming locations.
Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden posted on social media when the first official trailer was released: "Bolting into theatres on 16 June - @theFlash ! ⚡️
"We loved having this production on our stages and backlot, supported by the WB Set Lighting & Rigging team. #FilmedAtWBSL"
Directed by Andy Muschietti, of the “IT” films, The Flash has gained much press for the eagerly-awaited return of Michael Keaton as Batman.
Keaton first starred as Bruce Wayne in Tim Burton's Batman movie, with Knebworth House and Hatfield House doubling for Wayne Manor in that 1989 comic book blockbuster.
In fact, the new Flash movie has two Batmans with Ben Affleck also appearing as the Caped Crusader.
Worlds collide in 'The Flash' when Barry uses his superpowers to travel back in time in order to change the events of the past.
But when the Scarlet Speedster's attempt to save his family inadvertently alters the future, Barry becomes trapped in a reality in which General Zod (Michael Shannon) has returned, threatening annihilation, and there are no superheroes to turn to.
That is, unless Barry can coax a very different Batman out of retirement and rescue an imprisoned Kryptonian… albeit not the one he’s looking for.
Ultimately, to save the world that he is in and return to the future that he knows, Barry’s only hope is to race for his life.
But will making the ultimate sacrifice be enough to reset the universe?
The Flash ensemble also includes rising star Sasha Calle as Kara Zor-El / Supergirl.
The movie is released in UK cinemas on June 15.
3. Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One
Tom Cruise helped save the cinema industry last summer following the pandemic with his long-awaited Top Gun sequel.
Top Gun: Maverick took more than $1billion worldwide, including £83.7 million at the UK and Ireland box office – enough to make it one of the top 15 biggest movies of all time.
The film saw Cruise reprise the role of pilot Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell - a role which he first played 36 years earlier in the original Top Gun in 1986.
Top Gun: Maverick's delayed release due to the pandemic meant the release of Cruise's latest Mission: Impossible blockbuster starring Hertfordshire-based Simon Pegg was also pushed back until this summer.
Judging by the Dead Reckoning official trailer, audiences can look forward to another thrilling, action-packed adventure with Cruise returning as Ethan Hunt.
Riding a motorbike off a cliff is just one of the death-defying stunts in the movie, as you can see from the behind-the-scenes footage.
Directed by Christopher McQuarrie, and produced by Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie, the movie stars the returning Ving Rhames, Hot Fuzz star Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, who is also in the forthcoming Dune:Part Two, and Vanessa Kirby.
The cast also includes Hayley Atwell, Pom Klementieff, Rob Delaney, Cary Elwes, and Mark Gatiss.
Delaney, star of BAFTA-winning sitcom Catastrophe, got to know Cruise on the set of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One. He says Cruise was “so intensely involved in every aspect of the production” in a “different” way from any other “big star”.
He added: “He’ll be like, oh, well we should use this lens, that actor in the background’s hair should be an eighth of an inch shorter, like, like a computer, you know? So incredibly passionate.”
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One is due in cinemas on July 12, 2023.
When the first teaser trailer for the movie - which you can watch above - was released last year, Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden posted on Instagram: "We're very excited that Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One is coming to cinemas in 2023! 🎬@missionimpossible was partly #FilmedAtWBSL and rigging was provided by the team at WB Set Lighting & Rigging."
Another social media post stated: "The last three #MissionImpossible films were all partly #FilmedAtWBSL with lighting and rigging provided by the amazing WB Set Lighting & Rigging team."
4. Barbie
Is Barbieland in Hertfordshire?
Yes... the forthcoming Barbie movie starring Margot Robbie and La La Land's Ryan Gosling was filmed in Hertfordshire, with scenes shot at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden.
"This production turned Leavesden into Barbie Land!" posted WBSL on social media.
"We loved being home to @barbiethemovie and can’t wait to see it on the big screen this summer."
To live in Barbie Land is to be a perfect being in a perfect place. Unless you have a full-on existential crisis. Or you’re a Ken!
From Oscar-nominated writer/director Greta Gerwig, Barbie stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as Barbie and Ken respectively.
The cast also includes Kate McKinnon, Michael Cera, Anchorman's Will Ferrell, Sex Education star - and the new Doctor Who - Ncuti Gatwa, Bridgerton and Derry Girls favourite Nicola Coughlan, Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Dua Lipa and Oscar-winner Helen Mirren.
Barbie the movie is set for release on July 21, 2023.
5. Meg 2: The Trench
The prehistoric Megs are back... for seconds!
Jason Statham, who also stars in Fast X, can be seen in this sequel to surprise hit The Meg.
Dive into uncharted waters with Statham and action icon Wu Jing as they lead a daring research team on an exploratory dive into the deepest depths of the ocean in Meg 2: The Trench.
Out this August, expect multiple massive Megs in a high-stakes battle for survival. Think Jaws on steroids!
While the action takes place at sea, scenes of the movie were filmed in landlocked Hertfordshire using the stages and water tanks of Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden.
The film studios tweeted: "They’re back for seconds
"Meg 2 The Trench, the anticipated sequel to the original @MegMovie, is set for release on 4th August.
"We loved being home to the terrifying Meg at #WBSLeavesden! The production filmed on our stages and tanks."
Meg 2: The Trench is released on August 4, 2023.
6. Wonka
"The suspense is terrible, I hope it will last..."
It will be hard to avoid Timothée Chalamet on the big screen later this year with two eagerly-awaited Warner Bros blockbusters set for release.
WONKA ✨✨🍫 pic.twitter.com/ozaerNtroP
— Timothée Chalamet (@RealChalamet) October 10, 2021
Following the November release of filmmaker Denis Villeneuve's Dune sequel 'Dune: Part Two', which sees Chalamet return as Paul Atreides, the same actor takes the titular role in musical adventure Wonka, which can be seen from December 15.
From Warner Bros. Pictures, Wonka is a prequel to Roald Dahl novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and its movie adaptation Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.
Wonka tells the early adventures of Willy Wonka prior to opening the world's most famous chocolate factory.
As well as Lyme Regis in Dorset and Oxford, location filming of Wonka took place in St Albans last year near St Albans Catherdal and the Ye Olde Fighting Cocks pub, and in Verulamium Park.
Spotted filming in St Albans were Downton Abbey star Jim Carter, as well as Chalamet as Willy Wonka and Calah Lane.
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