Pokémon: Detective Pikachu (2019)

Posted on May 8, 2019 by Kent Film Office

Animated yellow Detective Pikachu seen smiling at the camera wearing a cap. Utensils and pipes in the background.

Pokémon: Detective Pikachu ©Warner Bros. Studios

Writer: Nicole Perlman and Rob Letterman
Director: Rob Letterman
Starring: Ryan Reynolds (voice), Justice Smith, Kathryn Newton, Rita Ora, Ken Watanabe, Bill Nighy
Production Company: Warner Bros. Pictures, Legendary, The Pokémon Company
Kent Locations Used: The Historic Dockyard Chatham

Based upon the Nintendo video game and later a tv anime and interactive App, Pokémon: Detective Pikachu is a feature film combining live elements and animation. The story centres on Tim (Justice Smith) who is looking for his missing father in the metropolis of Rhyme City in the Kanto Region. Accompanying him on this quest is Pokémon Pikachu (Ryan Reynolds) and together they find some dark secrets in the city.

The film stars Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool, The Hitman’s Bodyguard) as the voice of Pikachu, Justice Smith (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, The Get Down), Kathryn Newton (Supernatural, Big Little Lies), Rita Ora (Fifty Shades Darker, Fifty Shades Free), Ken Watanabe (Godzilla, Isle of Dogs) and Bill Nighy (Love Actually, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest). Directed by Rob Lettermen (Gulliver’s Travels, Goosebumps) and written by him with Nicole Perlman (Guardians of the Galaxy).

Some scenes in the film were shot on Anchor Wharf at The Historic Dockyard Chatham which has hosted many films including Sherlock Holmes (2009) and Peterloo (2018) and TV shows such as Call the Midwife (2012-2020) and Vanity Fair (2018).

POKÉMON Detective Pikachu was released in UK cinemas on Friday 10th May 2019.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.

King of Thieves (2018)

Posted on September 20, 2018 by Kent Film Office

King of Thieves Movie Poster with pink background and main actors faces in the shape of a diamond.

King of Thieves Movie Poster ©IMDb

Writer: Joe Penhall
Director: James Marsh
Starring: Michael Caine, Michael Gambon, Tom Courtenay
Production Company: Working Title Films
Kent Locations Used: The Harbour Arm, Turner Contemporary, Wig and Pen Pub, Nayland Rock Hotel, Margate train station, and Dover

Feature film King of Thieves (2018) is based on the infamous Hatton Garden Robbery, in which a crew of retired crooks pull off a major heist in London’s jewelry district. The thieves, most of them in their 60s and 70s, employ their old-school tricks of the trade to plan the heist over the Easter holiday weekend of 2015. After taking over £200 million worth of jewels, arguments erupt in the group as the police start to move in on the group.

Starring Michael Caine (Is Anybody There? (2009), Children of Men (2006)) as widower Brian Reader, Michael Gambon (Churchill’s Secret (2016), Victoria and Abdul (2017)) as Billy ‘The Fish’ Lincoln and Tom Courtenay (Last Orders (2002), Little Dorrit (2008)) as John Kenny Collins.

A short scene was filmed at the footbridge that leads to Shakespeare’s Beach in Aycliffe, Dover, but the main bulk of the scenes were filmed in and around Margate, including scenes at the Wig and Pen Pub, the Nayland Rock Hotel, Harbour Arm in Margate, outside the Turner Contemporary, and a scene at Margate Train Station.

Margate is a popular film location for films and has recently featured in film productions such as King Lear (2018), The Carer (2016) and True Love (2012).

Dover, where production filmed a small scene, is the site of the famous White Cliffs of Dover and has been used in films such as Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011).

The film was released in cinemas on Friday 14^th September 2018.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.

Hurricane (2018)

Posted on September 7, 2018 by Kent Film Office

Official Hurricane Movie Poster- Crashed plane at the bottom of the poster, three main characters at the centre of the poster in period clothing, planes and london skyline in background. Hurricane reads in the centre

Official Hurricane Movie Poster ©IMDb

Writers: Robert Ryan and Alastair Galbraith
Director: David Blair
Starring: Iwan Rheon, Milo Gibson, Stefanie Martini
Production Company: Head Gear Films
Kent Locations Used: Victoria Gardens & Stone Bay, Thanet

Hurricane (2018) is the story of Squadron 303, a group of courageous Polish soldiers who fought with British troops in the skies to defend England in WWII. The story is told through the eyes of Polish flying ace Jan Zumbach (Iwan Rheon), whose hope it is, that Britain can defeat the Nazis and free his own country.

Starring Iwan Rheon (Game of Thrones, Misfits) as Jan Zumbach, Milo Gibson (Hacksaw Ridge, Breaking & Exiting) as John Kent and Stefanie Martini (The Gold (2023), Prime Suspect 1973) as Phyllis Lambert.

Victoria Gardens was used in one of the scenes scene with a bus where Josef Frantisek (Krystof Hádek) meets Jan Zumbach (Iwan Rheon) and Ziggy (Matt Malecki). Victoria Gardens is situated in Broadstairs which is home to some of the most beautiful Georgian, Victorian and Regency buildings. Broadstairs has a sandy beach with sea-carved chalk cliffs with the scenery being used in the film when a character parachutes onto the beach from a war plane.

There was also a beach scene filmed at Stone Bay in Broadstairs, where Jan Zumbach (Iwan Rheon) is seen walking off a beach (this follows him stealing a plane in France to fly to England).

Broadstairs is situated in Thanet which is home to many beautiful Georgian, Victorian and Regency buildings. The area is a popular location for a variety of films and TV series including Liar (2017), The Lady in the Van (2015), and The Calling (2009).

The film was released in the UK on Friday 7^th September 2018.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.

Judwaa 2 (2017)

Posted on September 28, 2017 by Kent Film Office

Film poster with actor and actress on bicycle with large close of actors face in background tilting sunglasses forward. Judwaa 2 is written in the middle.

Judwaa 2 – © Fox Star Studios

Writer: Yunus Sajawal, Farhad Samji, Sajid
Director: David Dhawan
Starring: Salman Khan, Varun Dhawan, Jacqueline Fernandez, Anupam Kher, Tapsee Pannu
Production Company: Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment
Kent Locations Used: Sevenoaks

Judwaa 2 (2017) follows twin brothers Raja and Prem who were separated at birth and live very different lives until a series of coincidences brings them back together and they find themselves working together to infiltrate and take down an underground smuggling ring.

David Dhawan (Do not disturb, Rascals) directed the production along with writers Yunus Sajawal (Jaggu Dada, Singham Returns), Farhad Samji (Housefull 3, Diwale) and Sajid (Chennai Express, Ready). Indian superstars Salman Khan (Sultan, C.I.D ) and Varun Dhawan (Badlapur, Student of the year) star, along with Jacqueline Fernandez (Kick, Roy) , Anupam Kher (A Family Man, Sense8), and Tapsee Pannu (The Ghazi Attack, Pink)

The production visited the town of Sevenoaks to film in a private residence that features in the film.

Sevenoaks is a historic market town and the home of Knole Park, a stately home with a thousand acre medieval deer park. Previous productions to have filmed in Sevenoaks include Strike – The Cuckoo’s Calling/The Silkworm (2017), Rush (2013) and Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows (2011)

Judwaa 2 (2017) will be released in cinemas across the UK on 29^th September 2017

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For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.

Anti Matter (2017)

Posted on July 10, 2017 by Kent Film Office

Writer: Keir Burrows
Director: Keir Burrows
Starring: Yaiza Figueroa, Philippa Carson, Tom Barber-Duffy, Julia Savill, Noah Maxwell Clarke, Holly Joyce
Production Company: The Cast Iron Picture Co
Kent Locations Used: Bradbourne House

Anti Matter is a science fiction noir that follows scientist Liv (Philippa Carson) as she desperately tries to discover what happened to her after an experiment to generate and travel through a wormhole. She must find out who, or what, is behind the struggles in her life alongside her friends Ana (Yaiza Figueroa) and Nate(Tom Barber-Duffy).

Anti Matter stars Philippa Carson (Femme Killer, Virtual Witness) as Liv, Tom Barber-Duffy (The Befuddled Box of Betty Buttifint) as Nate and Yaiza Figueroa (The Showreel, A Beautiful Death) as Ana. Fellow cast members include Julia Savill, Noah Maxwell Clarke (Holby City, Top Boy) and Holly Joyce (Look What You Have Become, Grace). The film was written and directed by Keir Burrows (Hen party, Air).

Production used Bradbourne House in Kent as a double for Liv’s grandmother Brenda’s (Julia Savill) house. Beautiful exterior and interior shots are used as Liv, Anna and Nate visit Tinkles the cat.

Bradbourne House is a mansion set in a twenty acres of parkland located in West Malling. Features include extensive woodlands, a lake, a ballroom, conference rooms, small panelled library, glass greenhouse, walled orchard, converted stables and cellars.

Anti Matter was released in the UK on 10th July 2017.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.

Wonder Woman (2017)

Posted on June 1, 2017 by Kent Film Office

GAL GADOT as Diana standing on beach with other Amazonian women next to her.

Writers: Allan Heinberg, Geoff Johns

Director: Patty Jenkins

Starring: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Connie Nielsen

Production Companies: DC Films, Warner Bros, RatPac Entertainment, Atlas Entertainment, Wanda Picture, Cruel and Unusual Films

Kent Locations Used: Lower Halstow

Captain Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) and Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) standing next to each other facing the camera

Wonder Woman is an upcoming DC superhero film which follows Amazonian Princess, Diana (Gal Gadot), who leaves her home after an American pilot crashes on the island and tells her about the ongoing world war.

The film is written by Allan Heinberg (Grey’s Anatomy, Sex and the City) and Geoff Johns (The Flash, Arrow) and directed by Patty Jenkins (Monster, The Killing). Wonder Woman stars Gal Gadot (Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Fast & Furious), Chris Pine (Star Trek, Into the Woods), Robin Wright (The Princess Bride, House of Cards) and Connie Nielsen (Gladiator, One Hour Photo).

The major production visited the small Kent village of Lower Halstow where the estuary doubled as a Belgian Creek for a scene in which Diana arrives on a sailboat to be delivered to the war front.

Lower Halstow is located in the Swale district of Kent on the banks of the Medway Estuary. The rural villages in Swale have often been used as filming locations for visiting productions. Wonder Woman was filmed near Stangate Creek which lies on the River Medway and is famous for Turner’s watercolours of English rivers. Other productions that have filmed at Stangate Creek are Mr Turner (2014), Great Expectations (2012) and Canterbury Tales- The Man of Laws’ Tale (2003).

Wonder Woman was released in cinemas on 1^st June 2017.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.

Level Up (2016)

Posted on August 23, 2016 by Kent Film Office

Writers: Adam Randall, Gary Young

Director: Adam Randall

Starring: Josh Bowman, Neil Maskell, William Houston, Leila Mimmack

Production Company: Fulwell 73, Independent, Quickfire Films

Kent Locations Used: The Historic Dockyard Chatham

Level Up is a thriller about Matt (Josh Bowman), a young, unambitious man whose world changes instantly when his girlfriend is kidnapped. Forced to make his way across an increasingly sinister London, Matt tries to save his girlfriend, but will he succeed?

Written by Gary Young (Harry Brown, Vera) and Adam Randall (iBoy, Hooded), who also directs, the film was produced by Danny Potts (Piggy, The Guvnors) and stars Josh Bowman (Revenge, Prowl), Neil Maskell (Humans, The Football Factory), William Houston (Sherlock Holmes, Clash of the Titans), Leila Mimmack (Home Fires, High-Rise) and Christina Wolfe (Need for Speed, Fury).

The production largely filmed in London but also visited The Historic Dockyard Chatham in Kent where they used a warehouse in the ropery for the final scenes of the film where Matt (Josh Bowman) looks for his girlfriend.

The Historic Dockyard Chatham is a 17^th century dockyard set over 80 acres with more than 100 period buildings, dry docks, submarines and period streets.One of Kent’s most popular film locations, The Historic Dockyard Chatham has previously featured in Rustom (2016), Mr Turner (2014) and Oliver Twist (2007).

Level Up is available on DVD and online download.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.

Nannaku Prematho (To Father, With Love) (2016)

Posted on January 12, 2016 by Kent Film Office

Director: Sukumar
Starring: N.T. Rama Rao Jr, Rakul Preet Singh, Jagapathi Babu, Rajendra Prasad
Production Company: Reliance Entertainment, Sri Venkateswara Cine Chitra
Kent Locations Used: Dartford, Maidstone, Bradbourne House, Ingress Abbey, Spa Valley Railway, The Historic Dockyard Chatham

Nannaku Prematho (2016) is an Indian action film following Abhiram, a devoted son who, upon discovering that his father was ruined by a ruthless businessman many years ago, embarks on a 30-day revenge plan to dismantle his empire and fulfill his father’s dying wish of revenge.

Directed by Sukumar (Pushpa: The Rise – Part 1, Rangasthalam), the film stars N.T. Rama Rao Jr. (RRR, Janatha Garage) as Abhiram, Rakul Preet Singh (Chhatriwali, Loukyam) as Divyanka, Jagapathi Babu (Srimanthudu, Legend) as Krishnamurthy and Rajendra Prasad (Kalki 2898 AD, Aa Naluguru) as Abhiram’s father.

Production visited Kent to film in various locations, including a private house in Dartford which doubles for Abhiram’s father’s home, various streets in Maidstone, Bradbourne House, Ingress Abbey, Spa Valley Railway and The Historic Dockyard Chatham.

Located on the border of Kent, Dartford is a historic market town which boasts one of the largest shopping centres in Europe. Perhaps best known for the Dartford Crossing and Bluewater Shopping Centre, Dartford’s combination of industrial and historical landscapes makes for a popular filming location. Previous productions that have filmed in Dartford include Piggy (2012) and Wasp (2003).

As the county town of Kent and seat of local governance, Maidstone plays an important part in Kent’s history. The River Medway runs through Maidstone’s town centre, which is bustling with many shops, restaurants, bars, churches and a museum. Previous productions to have filmed in Maidstone include Rustom (2016), Missing (2009-2010) and They Came from Somewhere Else (1984).

Bradbourne House is a Queen Anne mansion situated within 20 acres of parkland, with woodland and a lake. Inside, there is a ballroom, conference room, small panelled library, glass greenhouse, converted stables and a cellar. Anti Matter (2017) also features Bradbourne House.

Ingress Abbey is a Jacobean style country house in the hamlet of Greenhithe in Dartford. It has over 50 rooms, including a large dining hall, ballroom, orangery and panelled passages. Ingress Abbey also appears in Poirot – The Kidnapped Prime Minister (1990).

The Spa Valley Railway runs for 3.5 miles through the Kent countryside between Tunbridge Wells and the village of Groombridge. There is also a signal box, ticket office and platform on site.

The Historic Dockyard Chatham is a 17^th Century dockyard which spans over 80 acres, containing over 100 buildings from the Georgian and Victorian periods. It is one of the most popular filming locations in Kent, having recently played host to Close to the Enemy (2016), Genius (2016) and Level Up (2016).

Nannaku Prematho (2016) was released on Tuesday 12^th January 2016 and is available to stream on Disney Hotstar.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.

The Monuments Men (2014)

Posted on February 5, 2014 by Kent Film Office

The Monuments Men movie poster- 6 cast members in seperate boxes, with their surnames written next to them. Monuments Men is written in red underneath,

Director: George Clooney

Writers: George Clooney, Grant Heslov

Starring: George Clooney, Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett, Bill Murray, John Goodman, Hugh Bonneville, Jean Dujardin, Bob Balaban

Production company Fox 2000 Pictures, Smokehouse Pictures, Studio Babelsberg

Kent Filming Locations: Farm in High Halden, Ashford

Frank Stokes (George Clooney), James Granger (Matt Damon) and Donald Jeffries (Hugh Bonneville) walking in front of an airplane wing

Frank Stokes (George Clooney), James Granger (Matt Damon) and Donald Jeffries (Hugh Bonneville) © Columbia Pictures and 20th Century Fox

The Monuments Men is an action drama film based on the true story of one of the greatest treasure hunts in history, where an unlikely team are tasked to go to Germany during World War II and rescue art masterpieces from Nazi thieves and return them to their rightful owners.

With the German Army under instructions to destroy all of the artwork, the Monuments Men as they were known, consisting of museum directors, curators, and art historians are tasked to go behind enemy lines and retrieve the art and are willing to risk their lives to protect and defend mankind’s greatest achievements.

Frank Stokes (George Clooney) and James Granger (Matt Damon) sitting at a bar having a drink

Directed, co-written and starring George Clooney (Up In The Air, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind) the film also stars a wealth of talent including Matt Damon (Bourne Trilogy, The Departed) , Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine, Lord of the Rings series), Bill Murray (Lost in Translation, Ghostbusters), John Goodman (The Big Lebowski, Argo), Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey, Burke and Hare), Jean Dujardin (The Wolf of Wall Street, The Artist) and Bob Balaban (Girls, Gosford Park).

In June 2013, the production visited a farm in High Halden, Ashford where they filmed establishing shots of the farmland. A number of the production team also chose to stay in Ashford whilst filming scenes in Camber Sands in neighbouring East Sussex.

Ashford is a lively town with tremendous rail links, both to Europe via the Eurostar and to the capital via the High Speed Javelin. The town boasts many shops, eateries, and a designer outlet shopping centre and only a short drive away is a glorious Kent countryside. This isn’t the first time that Ashford and surrounding areas has been used for filming with previous visiting productions including Emma (2009).

Don’t miss The Monuments Men which is released in cinemas on 14 February 2014.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.

Rush (2013)

Posted on September 8, 2013 by Kent Film Office

Director: Ron Howard
Writer: Peter Morgan
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Daniel Brühl, Olivia Wilde, Natalie Dormer, Alexandra Maria Lara
Production Company: Cross Creek Pictures, Exclusive Media, Working Title Films, Imagine Entertainment, Revolution Films
Kent Locations Used: Brands Hatch

Rush (2013) is an action-drama biopic about the 1970’s Formula 1 rivalry between charismatic Englishman James Hunt and Austrian perfectionist Niki Lauda whose glamorous fast paced lifestyles and jobs as racing drivers push them to breaking point.

Rush has an award winning team behind it, with director Ron Howard (Da Vinci Code, Apollo 13) and writer Peter Morgan (The Crown (2016-2020), The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)) having both previously won 2 Oscars.

The film stars Chris Hemsworth (Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Thor), Daniel Brühl (Inglorious Basterds, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier), Olivia Wilde (BoJack Horseman, TRON: Legacy), Alexandra Maria Lara (The King’s Man, Downfall) and Natalie Dormer (The Tudors, Game of Thrones).

The Rush production team visited Brands Hatch for 2 days in March 2012 and a further 2 days in May 2012 where it doubled as race tracks in Nurburgring, Monza and Firano. The Brands Hatch hospitality suite was used to set the fateful driver’s meeting where James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) swayed the drivers to race despite the dangerous weather conditions.

Brands Hatch is in Swanley in the Sevenoaks district of Kent and is a popular race track that was used for the Road Cycling events of the 2012 Summer Paralympics. Other productions to have filmed there include Grand Prix (1966) and CI5: The New Professionals (1999).

Rush was released in cinemas on Friday 13 September 2013 and is now available to buy on DVD.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.

Kent's Premier Film Commission

Action

Pokémon: Detective Pikachu (2019)

King of Thieves (2018)

Hurricane (2018)

Judwaa 2 (2017)

Anti Matter (2017)

Wonder Woman (2017)

Level Up (2016)

Nannaku Prematho (To Father, With Love) (2016)

The Monuments Men (2014)

Rush (2013)