LucasFilm’s Willow highlights continued Welsh production boom
Creative Wales has published figures showing that since 2020, more than 22 projects filmed in Wales have generated more than £155.6m for the local economy.
Among the high-profile roll call of major inward investment projects to have chosen Wales as their key location is LucasFilm’s much-anticipated sequel to Willow, that began filming in early summer last year with support from Creative Wales.
The series, which offered 25 paid placements for trainees during production, has just launched on Disney+. ~
Lynwen Brennan, the executive vice president of Lucasfilm, said of filming Willow in Wales: “The industry is really booming right now, and Wales has this amazing combination of assets. We’ve got these great stage facilities, beautiful landscapes, and this great talent in Wales, which of course - me being Welsh - I was thrilled to see.”
.png)
Wales now has a combined 822,705 sq ft of shooting space across the country’s seven studios, along with highly-experienced crew and a huge variety of locations including the only coastal National Park in the UK and a plethora of historic landmarks including hundreds of castles.
Brennan continued: “With Creative Wales we [Lucasfilm] have the same goals. We want to grow the industry here; we want to grow skillset. There are many, many options in the film industry whatever your skillset is. Whatever you’re interested in there’s probably a place for you in the film industry. Keep knocking on that door, because it is available to you and it’s available to you right here in Wales.
.jpg)
Other high-profile projects to have shot in Wales recently include Havoc with Tom Hardy, the third series of His Dark Materials and the fourth run of Sex Education, which began a six-month shoot in July.
In the last two years, Wales Screen, Creative Wales’ location service, has received over 900 production enquiries from film and TV crews, and in 2021 alone, the Welsh screen sector saw a turnover of £575 million, a 36% increase from the year before.
Deputy minister for arts and sport, Dawn Bowden, commented: “This eagerly awaited series offers another excellent opportunity to showcase Wales on a global level. I’m delighted we’ve been able to support LucasFilm to bring the production back to Wales.
"We can’t wait for the world to see Wales on screen - and this has been such a fantastic opportunity for the trainees who have gained invaluable experience on a large-scale production.”
Sex Education image via Sam Taylor/Netflix; HDM via BBC; Willow via Creative Wales.
Also on The Knowledge
Studios Spotlight – OMA V
The latest in our Studios Spotlight is OMA V, due to be fully open at the end of this month. We speak to Location Collective’s MD Becky Butler about the new facility, the company’s studio portfolio and the plans for the future.
Sustainability system launches with new Sky comedy
With sustainability at the top of the agenda for production, managing the eco credentials of your film or TV project is becoming more important every day.
Emma Thompson, Ruth Wilson to star in Mick Herron drama for Apple TV+
Ruth Wilson and Emma Thompson will star in Down Cemetery Road, based on the book by Slow Horses author Mick Herron, for Apple TV+.
Studios Spotlight – Behind the scenes at The Bottle Yard Studios
The latest spotlight in our Studios series shines on Bristol’s Bottle Yard Studios, the largest film and TV studio in the west of England.
Ralph Fiennes, Jim Broadbent to film Alan Bennett feature in Yorkshire
A new film that reunites Alan Bennett and Nicholas Hytner will shoot in Yorkshire this May.
James Norton leads starry cast on period drama King & Conqueror
Filming is underway in Iceland on UK period drama King & Conqueror, starring James Norton and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.
