Bill Nighy

Living (2022)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Bill Nighy, as Williams, stands in front of a large, grey, historic courthouse building. He is wearing a black pinstripe suit, polka dot tie, and black bowler hat. He carries an umbrella in his hand and is looking at a watch on his wrist.

Bill Nighy in Living (2022) © Ross Ferguson

Director: Oliver Hermanus
Starring: Bill Nighy, Aimee Lou Wood, Alex Sharp
Production Company: County Hall, Film4, Filmgate Films, Ingenious, Kurosawa Production Co., Lipsync Productions, Number 9 Films
Kent Locations Used: The Historic Dockyard Chatham, King’s Theatre – Chatham

Living (2022) is an English-language adaptation of Akira Kurosawa’s classic film Ikiru by Kazuo Ishiguro, set in 1950s London.

Directed by Oliver Hermanus (Moffie, Beauty), Living stars Bill Nighy (The Boat that Rocked (2009), Pokémon: Detective Pikachu (2019)) as Williams, Aimee Lou Wood (Sex Education (2021), The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2022)) as Margaret Harris and Alex Sharp (The Trial of the Chicago 7, The Hustle) as Peter Wakeling.

In June and July 2021, production visited The Historic Dockyard Chatham to film various scenes. The exterior of the Lead and Paint Mill doubles as the bomb site which Williams later transforms into a playground, the Ropery alley doubles for the streets of London, and the Commissioner’s House Gardens doubles for St James’s Park in London.

A historic 17th-Century dockyard spanning over 80 acres, Chatham Dockyard contains over 100 buildings dating from the Georgian and Victorian Periods. It is the most popular filming location in Kent, having played host to many high-profile films and TV shows. Most recently, Operation Mincemeat (2022), The Nevers (2021) and The Phantom of the Open (2022) shot various scenes on the site.

A group of people sit in an old-fashioned cinema.

Behind the scenes at King’s Theatre, Chatham. Alex Sharp, Bill Nighy and Aimee Lou Wood with Spotlites staff © Spotlites

Filming also took place at King’s Theatre in Chatham, where Bill Nighy and Aimee Lou Wood’s characters watch a film at the cinema. Chatham is a historic town situated in Medway, North Kent and is known for its historic dockyard, army barracks and high street. The Last Rite (2021) also filmed a short scene in Chatham town.

Living was released in UK cinemas on Friday 4th November 2022.

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

Pokémon: Detective Pikachu (2019)

Posted on 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.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 2010

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Rupert Grint, Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe running through a dark forest. Film title Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 is in silver underneath

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 movie poster © WarnerBros

Director: David Yates

Writers: Steve Kloves (screenplay), J.K. Rowling (novel)

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Rhys Ifans, Bill Nighy, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall and Julie Walters

Production Companies: Warner Bros., Heyday Films

Kent Filming Locations:  Dartford Crossing

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 is the seventh instalment of the popular Harry Potter series based on the novels by JK Rowling. The story follows Harry racing against time to destroy the Horcruxes, Lord Voldemort’s secret to immortality. During his pursuit he uncovers the existence of the three most powerful objects in the wizarding world: the Deathly Hallows.

With an A-list British cast, including those who grew up on the film set, Daniel Radcliffe(The Woman in Black), Rupert Grint (Wild Target), Emma Watson (The Perks of Being a Wallflower), Tom Felton (Rise of the Planet of the Apes); and veteran actors such as Michael Gambon (The King’s Speech), Maggie Smith (Best Exotic Marigold Hotel), Ralph Fiennes (Schindler’s List) and Helena Bonham-Carter (Les Misérables).

The Dartford Crossing became part of movie history in 2010 when it was used for the scene where Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane)  and Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) race through the toll road and tunnel on a flying motorbike, being chased by Death-Eaters. At the end of the scene, as they take to the air, make sure you spot the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge in the background!

The Dartford area  has been used for filming by productions including London Spy (2015), Hummingbird (2013) and The Inbetweeners (2010).

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 was released in cinemas in November 2010 and is now available to buy on DVD.

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