Chatham

The Crown Series 1 – 6 (2016-2023)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Actress Olivia Coleman as Queen Elizabeth II dressed in regimental uniform sitting on a black horse saluting. In the background is a crowd

Olivia Colman in The Crown (2020) © Netflix

Creator: Peter Morgan
Starring: Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, Imelda Staunton, Jonathan Pryce, Lesley Manville, Elizabeth Debicki, Dominic West
Production Company: Left Bank Pictures, Sony Pictures Television
Kent Locations Used: The Historic Dockyard Chatham, Brompton Barracks, Cobham Hall, Lydd, Discovery Park, Rochester

The Crown (2016-2023) is a Netflix Original historical drama series focusing on the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. Based on real events, the series is a fictional dramatization of the political and personal events that shaped her reign.

Created by Peter Morgan (Rush (2013), The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)), The Crown was reportedly the most expensive series to be produced by Netflix when it first aired, estimated at £100 million.

In Series 1 – 2, Queen Elizabeth II is portrayed by Claire Foy (The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2022), A Very British Scandal (2021)) followed by Olivia Colman in Series 3-4 (Landscapers (2021), The Favourite (2019)). Imelda Staunton (Flesh and Blood (2020), Vera Drake) took over the role in Series 5-6, supported by a host of stars including Jonathan Pryce (Wolf Hall (2015), The Two Popes) as Prince Philip, Lesley Manville (Harlots (2017), Mr Turner (2014)) as Princess Margaret, Elizabeth Debicki (The Great Gatsby, Widows) as Princess Diana and Dominic West (Genius (2016), Johnny English Reborn (2011)) as Prince Charles.

The Crown production team chose to visit Kent to film at The Historic Dockyard Chatham for Series 1 where they filmed a dockside scene on Anchor Wharf after building part of the side of a ship. The Historic Dockyard Chatham dates back to the 17th century and contains over 100 buildings from the Georgian and Victorian periods. It is a popular film location that has previously featured on screen in Suffragette (2015), Downton Abbey (2010-2013) and Les Miserables (2013).

In Series 4, production visited Brompton Barracks in Chatham, where they used the Parade Square and The Mall for scenes re-enacting Trooping the Colour at the Horse Guards Parade. Brompton Barracks is ideally suited as a location to double for iconic London landmarks with a large parade ground, vaulted cellars under the Officer’s Mess, statues, stone bridges, a museum, and a large ornate arch.

For Series 5, production revisited The Historic Dockyard Chatham where they filmed the Queen boarding a ship at Anchor Wharf. Filming also took place in the village of Lydd, at Hardy Hall and The Green, which was used to recreate Tony Blair, played by Bertie Carvel (Dalgliesh, Doctor Foster), and his family casting their votes in the 1997 General Election – a scene which sadly did not make the final cut. Production also visited Cobham Hall, which doubled as Eton College.

Production returned to Kent for Series 6, with filming taking place at Cobham Hall, which once again doubles for Eton College. A jogging scene was also filmed in a nearby private woodland and in Episode 4 Discovery Park features as the hospital in France where Princess Diana passed away. The wedding of Prince Charles (Dominic West) and Camilla (Olivia Williams) in Windsor was filmed outside Rochester Guildhall in the City Centre doubling for the registry office at Windsor Guildhall and the wedding procession.

Cobham Hall is a private school in a historic house which is located in 150 acres of Grade II listed parkland. Its features include a stunning ballroom, library, cobbled courtyards, formal gardens, water towers, modern classrooms and sport facilities, including a swimming pool. Previous productions to have filmed at Cobham Hall include Hetty Feather (2015-2020), High End Yaariyaan (2019) and Tulip Fever (2018).

Formerly the HQ for Pfizer in the UK, Discovery Park is a large office complex with science labs and warehouses. Recent productions to have filmed there include The Old Guard (2020), The Complex: Lockdown (2020) and Baptiste (2019).

Rochester City has the feel of a medieval market town, with Cathedral, castle ruins and unspoilt high street by the River Medway. Recent productions to have filmed there include Whitstable Pearl (2021-2022), Series 4 of Unforgotten (2021) and Big Boys Don’t Cry (2020).

The first series of The Crown (2016-2023) was released on Netflix on Friday 4th November 2016. All seasons are currently available to view on Netflix.

Series 6 of The Crown (2016-2023) will be released on Netflix in two parts. Part 1 will be released on Thursday 16th November 2023, with Part 2 following on Thursday 14th December 2023.

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

The Last Rite (2021)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Bethan Waller as Lucy kneels on a bed. She is wearing grey jogging bottoms and a pink tank top and has bandages around her wrist. Beside the bed are lit white candles. On the wall on the left-hand side of the frame is a wooden crucifix.

Bethan Waller in The Last Rite (2021) © Nocturnal Pictures

Writer / Director: Leroy Kincaide
Starring: Bethan Waller, Johnny Fleming, Kit Smith
Production Company: Nocturnal Pictures
Kent Locations Used: Ballin’ – Maidstone, Barming, Eastwell Manor Hotel, Hemsted Forest – Cranbrook, Kangaroo Court Coffee House – Chatham, Lenham, Sevenoaks, St Peter & St Paul Church – Aylesford, Teston Bridge Country Park, Wildwoods Restaurant – Maidstone

The Last Rite (2021) is an indie horror film about medical student Lucy who begins suffering from sleep paralysis and falls prey to a demonic force set on tearing her life apart.

The debut feature of writer and director Leroy Kincaide, The Last Rite stars Bethan Waller as Lucy, Johnny Fleming (Soho) as her boyfriend Ben and Kit Smith (Echoes, Sniper Corpse) as Father Roberts.

The film was shot entirely on location in Kent. The main location, Ben and Lucy’s house, was filmed in a private house in Barming, Maidstone. Other Maidstone locations featured include Dr. Bennett’s (Simon Rhys-Jones) office, Ballin’ (formerly Gallery Superclub) and Wildwood Restaurant which double as The Cuban Bar and bathroom.

Another Maidstone location featured in the film is Teston Bridge Country Park, which appears in a short sequence where Lucy meets Father Roberts for the first time and asks for his help.

In the nearby town of Lenham, a private house features as the exterior and interior of Dr Andrews’ (David Kerr) house, where Lucy goes to seek answers about The Man in the Hat.

The Chancellor’s office, where Father Roberts goes to plead the Church for an exorcism, was filmed at Eastwell Manor Hotel in Ashford.

The exterior and interior of St Peter and St Paul’s Church in Aylesford doubles as Father Roberts’ church, where Lucy goes to seek help.

Hemsted Forest in Cranbrook appears in a short dream sequence, where Lucy imagines herself waking up in the woods and being haunted by The Man in the Hat.

A private house in Sevenoaks doubles as the living room and bedroom of Father Roberts’ house

Kangaroo Court Coffee House (formerly in Chatham, now in Rochester) features in a small scene where Lucy and her friend Ellie (Tara Hoyos-Martinez) meet to discuss the otherworldly figure in Lucy’s house.

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 Series 2 of This Time with Alan Partridge (2021), Rustom (2016) and Series 1 of Missing (2009-2010).

Teston Bridge Country Park spreads over 32 acres and consists of three meadows beside the River Medway. Other productions to have filmed here include Half Broken Things (2007) and Dunkirk (1958).

Lenham is a market village situated on the southern edge of the North Downs, halfway between Maidstone and Ashford. In its centre is the busy but picturesque square, which has two public houses, a couple of restaurants, and a tea-room, as well as various shops. The village is at the main source of the Great Stour as well as the River Len, which flows in a westerly direction to join the River Medway at Maidstone.

Built in a Neo-Elizabethan style in 1920 on the site of the former stately home Eastwell Park, Eastwell Manor Hotel offers uninterrupted views over the North Downs, as well as a luxurious dining room, manicured lawns, a gym, leisure club, spa, outdoor pool and 9-hole golf course. The hotel appears in a 1992 episode of The Darling Buds of May (1991-1993).

Aylesford is a picturesque village located on the banks of the River Medway, complete with a Norman Church and Victorian houses. Other productions to have filmed in Aylesford include the Bollywood film Rustom (2016) and Half a Sixpence (1967).

Hemsted Forest boasts approximately 398 hectares of woodland, a mixture of conifer and broadleaf, and is rich in different bird species. The forest is situated in Cranbrook, a busy village with a large smock mill on the North Downs. Both Series 1 and 2 of the detective show Queens of Mystery (2019-2021) feature the village.

The town of Sevenoaks has a variety of shops and restaurants as well as one of the oldest cricket grounds in the country – The Vine Cricket Ground. There are many stately homes and castles in the area as well as beautiful countryside. Recent productions to have filmed in Sevenoaks include The Larkins (2021-2022), The Cleaner (2021) and PRU (2022).

Chatham is a historic town situated in Medway, North Kent and is known for its historic dockyard, army barracks and high street. Series 4 of The Crown (2016-2023) features the barracks, and Operation Mincemeat (2022), along with many other high-profile productions, features scenes filmed at the dockyard.

The Last Rite was released on Amazon Prime on Monday 4th April 2022.

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

Top Boy (2019-2022)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Kane Robinson as Sully and Ashley Walters as Dushane stand in front of the River Thames looking off into the distance. Both are wearing dark-coloured baggy hoodies.

Kane Robinson and Ashley Walters in Top Boy Season 1 © Netflix

Writer: Ronan Bennett
Starring: Ashley Walters,Kane Robinson, Micheal Ward, Shone Romulus
Production Company: Cowboy Films, DreamCrew, Easter Partisan, SpringHill Entertainment
Kent Locations Used: Margate, Ramsgate, Gravesend, The Dockside Outlet Shopping Centre in Chatham

Top Boy (2019-2022) is a British drama series revolving around the life of Dushane (Ashley Walters (Figures of Speech, Bulletproof)), the leader of an underground drug operation, his friend Sully (Kane Robinson (Tower Block, Point Blank)), troubled teen Jamie (Michael Ward (The A List, Small Axe (2020)) and their aim to become the richest men in town.

Axed by Channel 4 in 2013 after two series, the show soon found a new home on Netflix and the new Series  was produced by rapper Drake, a long-time fan of the show.

Season One follows the story of Dushane as he travels to Jamaica where he makes a deal with Sugar (Gilbert Chen), an imprisoned drug lord. When Dushane returns to the UK, he connects with some of his crew selling drugs in Ramsgate and tries to regain control. Back on Summerhouse estate, Dushane once again rises to Top Boy status despite resistance from the new crew in London Fields that is headed by teenager Jamie. Season Two continues to explore the rival dynamics between the two gangs.

Season One was written by Ronan Bennett (Gunpowder, Hidden) and Daniel West (Gunpowder) and directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green (King Richard, Monsters and Men), Brady Hood (Endeavour, The One) and Aneil Karia (Lovesick, Pure), with Episode 4 directed by the critically-acclaimed Nia DaCosta (Candyman, The Marvels).

Season Two sees the return of Ronan Bennett as writer, and introduces new cast members including Josephine De La Baume (Road Games (2016), Mr Selfridge (2013-2016)) as Delphine, Sully’s new love interest, Howard Charles (Whitstable Pearl (2021-2022), Liar (2017-2020) as Curtis, Lauryn’s abusive boyfriend, Erin Kellyman (The Green Knight, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier) as Pebbles, and rap and grime artist ‘NoLay’ who returns to her role as Sully’s ex-girlfriend Mandy.

In Season One, filming took place in Margate at Walpole Bay and Fulsam Rock Beach and nearby streets including Athelstan Road. Production also visited Ramsgate, where they filmed at Jacob’s Ladder, outside the Rose of England pub on the High Street and Ramsgate Train Station. In addition, Gordon Place in Gravesend played the role of the fictional ‘Summerhouse Estate’ in London.

In Season Two Episode 5, The Dockside Outlet Shopping Centre in Chatham features in a scene where Lauryn (Saffron Hocking) flees from her abusive boyfriend in a Liverpool shopping mall. Chatham is a historic town situated in Medway, North Kent, and is known for its historic dockyard, army barracks and high street. A recent production to film in Chatham is Great British Railway Journeys Series 11 (2020).

Margate, in the district of Thanet, is a popular film location and has been used as in various productions such as in feature films King of Thieves (2018) and King Lear (2018). Ramsgate is also a popular location in Thanet and has featured in several productions such as Baptise (2019), Hurricane (2018) and The Tunnel: Sabotage (2016).

Gravesend is on the southern bank of the River Thames and boasts a cast iron pier, promenade and high street as well as international rail links at the nearby Ebbsfleet International station. The Gravesend area has previously welcomed film productions such as Killing Eve (2018-2022), The Escape (2018), and Doctor Strange (2016).

Top Boy Season Two was made available to stream on Netflix on Friday 18th March 2022.

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

Red Joan (2019)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Sophie Cookson wearing a green jumper talking to one of the other characters in the film who has his back to the camera, outside in what looks like a field.

Sophie Cookson in Red Joan ©YouTube

Writer: Lindsay Shapero
Director: Trevor Nunn
Starring: Sophie Cookson, Tom Hughes, Judi Dench
Production Company: Trademark Films
Kent Locations Used: Historic Dockyard Chatham

Feature film Red Joan (2019) follows the life of the KGB’s longest-serving British spy, Joan Stanley (Judi Dench). Sophie Cookson plays Joan in her younger years, when, as a Soviet and communist party sympathizer, she is recruited by the KGB while employed as a British government civil servant. She successfully hands over information about the manufacture of nuclear arms which allows the Soviet Union to keep up with NATO in the arms race, managing to remain undetected for over half a century.

The film is directed by Trevor Nunn (Les Misérables, School of Rock) and stars Oscar winning actress Judi Dench (Murder on the Orient Express, Victoria & Abdul), Sophie Cookson (Kingsman: The Golden Circle, The Huntsman: Winter’s War), and Tom Hughes (Victoria, About Time).

Some scenes were filmed at The Historic Dockyard Chatham using the HMS Cavalier as well as Anchor Wharf.

The Historic Dockyard Chatham, with its Victorian and Georgian architecture has featured in films such as Victoria & Abdul (2017) and The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (2015).

Red Joan is due to be released in UK cinemas on Friday 19th April 2019.

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

Level Up (2016)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Level Up poster - animation of a man holding a gun with Level Up wirtten in red

Level Up poster © Fulwell 73, Independent, Quickfire Films

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 17th 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. 

 

Mr Selfridge (2013-2016)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
MR_SELFRIDGE - JEREMY PIVEN as Harry Selfridge, KATHERINE KELLY as Mae Rennard, SACHA DHAWAN as Jimmy and ZOE RICHARDS and EMMA HAMILTON as THE DOLLY SISTERS

Mr Selfridge – Jeremy Piven as Harry Selfridge, Katherine Kelly as Mae Rennard, Sacha Dhawan as Jimmy and Zoe Richards and Emma Hamilton as The Dolly Sisters © ITV

Starring: Jeremy Piven, Frances O’Connor, Ron Cook, Kika Markham, Tom Goodman-Hill, Amy Beth Hayes, Samuel West
Production Company: ITV Studios, Masterpiece
Kent Locations Used: The Historic Dockyard Chatham, South Foreland Lighthouse, Kingsgate Bay

Mr Selfridge (2013-2016) was an ITV drama series based on the novel ‘Shopping, Seduction and Mr Selfridge’ by Lindy Woodhead. The series tells the true story of charismatic American entrepreneur Harry Gordon Selfridge who transformed the world of retail after opening the first ever Selfridges store in London in 1909.

The series stars Jeremy Piven (Serendipity, Entourage) as Harry Selfridge, Frances O’Connor (A.I. Artificial Intelligence, Mansfield Park) as Rose Selfridge, Ron Cook (On a Clear Day (2005), Hot Fuzz) as Mr Crabb, Kika Markham (Killing Me Softly, Outland) as Lois Selfridge, Tom Goodman-Hill (The Rizen (2017), Humans – Series 2 (2016)) as Mr Grove, Amy Beth Hayes (Three Little Birds, Lilyhammer) as Kitty Hawkins and Samuel West (Darkest Hour (2017), Howards End) as Frank Edwards.

The production came to The Historic Dockyard Chatham to film the exterior of Selfridges’ Oxford Street store throughout all four series.

Frances O’Connor, who plays Rose Selfridge, said: “The exterior set is down at Chatham in Kent and just looks like the outside of Selfridge’s. Then if you step a couple of feet one way you’re in the water of the docks. That’s the magic of filming. It really does look amazing.”

For Series 3, production visited the South Foreland Lighthouse in Dover to film Violette Selfridge (Hannah Tointon) and Victor Colleano (Trystan Gravelle) taking a drive to the coast.

Kingsgate Bay in Broadstairs features in Series 4, in a scene where Mr Grove and Miss Mardle (Amanda Abbington) visit the beach.

Harry Selfridge talks to Journalists in an airfield

Jeremy Piven as Harry Selfridge talks to Journalists © ITV

Set on the River Medway, The Historic Dockyard Chathamis a popular film location offering Georgian and Victorian architecture, maritime environment, dry dock, cobbled streets, and industrial buildings. The Historic Dockyard Chatham has previously featured in productions such as Victor Frankenstein (2015), Jekyll and Hyde (2015) and Great Expectations (2012).

South Foreland Lighthouse in Dover is a Victorian lighthouse landmark along the White Cliffs of Dover. The White Cliffs of Dover has been featured on screen in productions such as Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows (2011) and On A Clear Day (2005).

Kingsgate Bay is a beautiful sandy beach surrounded by chalk cliffs in Broadstairs. The Thanet area has welcomed filming from projects including The Lady in the Van (2015), Eastenders (2007-2023) and Die Another Day (2002).

The first episode of Mr Selfridge aired on ITV1 on Sunday 6th January 2013.

The final season of Mr Selfridge (2013-2016) began airing on ITV1 on Friday 8th January 2016 and all 4 series are now available to stream on ITVX.

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

Children in Need – The Rickshaw Challenge (2015)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Pudsey the bear in the studio with Team Rickshaw sat on the sofa behind him

The One Show’s Rickshaw challenge 2015 – Team Rickshaw. (l-r) Alex Jones, Lucy, George G, Pudsey, Erin, Amira, Matt Baker, George D, Elliot © BBC

Kent Locations: Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone, Chatham, The Historic Dockyard Chatham, Rochester, Gravesend, Dartford

Returning in 2015 for its fifth year is The One Show Rickshaw Challenge, in aid of BBC Children in Need. With help from The One Show presenters Matt Baker and Alex Jones, six young riders embark upon an epic 470-mile journey pedalling a rickshaw.

Across eight days the team will cycle from Land’s End to the East End, beginning their pursuit on Friday 6th November 2015. The end of Day Six will see the team touch down in Brighton, before beginning the sixty miles plus journey to The Historic Dockyard Chatham the following day. The expedition will take the team through a number of towns in Kent, including parts of Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone, Chatham, Rochester, Gravesend and Dartford .

The cumulative total of money raised so far by The Rickshaw Challenge is over £7.9 million, all of which goes towards supporting disadvantaged young people in the UK.

Tunbridge Wells is a town in West Kent, home to a host of historic buildings, specialist shops, churches and a busy town centre. Productions which have previously filmed in the area include Britain’s Best Bakery (2012), Terry and Mason’s Great Food Trip (2015) and Hunted (2012).

Maidstone is the county town of Kent, home to a number of parks and shopping facilities, as well as The Maidstone Studios which is the UK’s largest independent High Definition TV studio facility. Productions which have filmed in the area include Take Me Out (2015), Later… with Jools Holland (2015) and Couples Come Dine With Me (2014).

Rochester offers beautiful cobbled streets, parks and the Cathedral and castle while Chatham is home to The Historic Dockyard Chatham, Day Seven’s final destination before Team Rickshaw makes their way up to Elstree to finally complete the challenge.  The Historic Dockyard Chatham is a popular filming location on account of its Georgian and Victorian architecture and authentic cobbled streets (which the rickshaw riders might be hoping to avoid!). The Medway area has previously been seen on screen in Jekyll and Hyde (2015), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (2012) and Sherlock Holmes (2009).

The town of Gravesend is situated in North West Kent, with exceptional transport links up to London. Gravesend has previously hosted productions including Babylon (2014), The Interceptor (2015) and Great British Railway Journeys (2014).

Dartford is situated close to Bromley and Bexley and boasts great travel links in and out of Kent. Full of quaint architecture and great guesthouses and hotels, Dartford has hosted other productions in the past such as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010) and The Inbetweeners (2010).

Tune into The One Show on BBC One at 19:00, BBC One to follow Team Rickshaw’s progress from Friday 6th November until Friday 13th November, when the Children in Need Appeal Show will be airing.

 

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

Suffragette (2015)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Suffragette film poster- The three sufragetters facing the camera with "The Time is Now" "Suffrafettes" written on top

Suffragette film poster © Pathe

Director: Sarah Gavron

Writer: Abi Morgan

Starring: Carey Mulligan, Helena Bonham Carter, Meryl Streep, Ben Whishaw, Brendan Gleeson, Anne-Marie Duff

Production Companies: Film4, BFI, Ingenious Media, Canal+, Ciné+, Ruby Films

Kent Locations Used: The Historic Dockyard Chatham

Told through the eyes of a young mother, Suffragette is a powerful film about the foot soldiers of the suffragette movement in late 19th and early 20th century Britain. When peaceful protests fail, a group of suffragettes take radical moves to be heard, risking their jobs, homes, families and even their lives.

Carey Mulligan as Maud looking out of a window next to a vase of flowers

Carey Mulligan as Maud © Pathe

The film is directed by Sarah Gavron (Brick Lane, This Little Life) and written by Abi Morgan (Shame, The Iron Lady).

Featuring an all-star cast including Carey Mulligan (Drive, An Education), Helena Bonham Carter (Alice In Wonderland, Fight Club), Meryl Streep (The Devil Wears Prada, The Hours), Ben Whishaw (Skyfall, Cloud Atlas), Brendan Gleeson (Edge of Tomorrow, Troy) and Anne-Marie Duff (Nowhere Boy, Notes on a Scandal).

The production visited The Historic Dockyard Chatham for a week in February 2014 which doubled as the exterior to the Bethnal Green Laundry, a factory and a prison cell.

The Historic Dockyard Chatham is a maritime heritage location set over an 80 acre site. The location boasts a variety of Georgian and Victorian architecture, maritime environment, cobbled streets, and industrial buildings. The Historic Dockyard Chatham is a popular film location and has previously been seen on screen in The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (2015) Our World War (2014) and Mr Selfridge (2012-2015).

Suffragette was released in cinemas on Monday 12th October 2015 and is now available for DVD and online purchase.

 

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

 

 

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (2015)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Henry Cavill pointing a gun to the camera in a street

Henry Cavill as Napoleon Solo ©Warner Bros and Ratpac-Dune Entertainment

 

Director: Guy Ritchie

Writer: Guy Ritchie, Lionel Wigram

Stars: Alicia Vikander, Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer

Production Company: Ritchie/Wigram Productions, RatPac-Dune Entertainment, Davis Entertainment

Kent Locations Used: The Historic Dockyard Chatham

Alicia Vikander as Gaby, Armie Hammer as Illya Kuryakin and Henry Cavill standing outside a flight of stairs

Alicia Vikander as Gaby, Armie Hammer as Illya Kuryakin and Henry Cavill as Napoleon Solo ©Warner Bros and Ratpac-Dune Entertainment

The Man From U.N.C.L.E is an action spy-fi movie set in the early 1960s during the Cold War. A mysterious criminal organization plans to use nuclear weapons and war technology to disrupt the balance of power between the United States and Soviet Union.

CIA agent, Napoleon Solo (Henry Cavill) and KGB agent, Illya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer) are forced to work together to stop the criminals in their tracks. Their only lead is the daughter of a missing German scientist who is their key to infiltrating the organisation. They must find her soon to prevent a global disaster.

Cast and crew of The Man From U.N.C.L.E. visited The Historic Dockyard Chatham for 5 days to film a chase sequence where the Historic Dockyard doubles as East Berlin. In the film, the footage shot at the Dockyard is mixed with CGI to create an incredible, fast-paced car chase.

The Dockyard has previously been transformed into France in Les Miserables (2013), Victorian London Streets in Sherlock Holmes (2009), and was HMS Gannet in The Dockyard was used in Mr Turner (2014).

The Man from U.N.C.L.E is released in cinemas August 14th 2015.

 

 

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

Sean Bean on Waterloo (2015)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
View from Fort Amherst- roofs of houses with the river Medway behind

View from Fort Amherst ©Kentfilmoffice

 

Starring: Sean Bean

Production Company: Wavelength Films

Kent Locations: Chatham, Fort Amherst

On the 18th June 1815, The Battle of Waterloo was fought between France and the Seventh Coalition; this year will mark the 200th anniversary of that Battle. To honour that anniversary, a two part documentary will air, presented by actor Sean Bean. The documentary will feature evidence from eye witness accounts, along with modern military experts to help tell the story of the conflict. Alongside military experts, Sean Bean will be testing tactics and weapons that were used during the battle and compare them with present day strategies. This documentary is hoping to “provide a ground level perspective” on the Battle.

The documentary has been produced by Independent company, Wavelength Films, and has been commissioned by A+E networks UK. Sean Bean has previously played fictional British soldier, Richard Sharpe on the historical war drama ‘Sharpe’ (5 May 1993 –9 November 2008). Bean himself said “I have always been interested in the story of Waterloo especially since I played the role of Richard”. He also stated that “[Sharpe’s] adventures were based on real events 200 years ago”. When this documentary was first announced Sean Bean stated “I am excited to be following the footsteps of Sharpe and those who fought in the Battle of Waterloo to tell the story of the iconic battle on history.”

Filming for this special documentary has taken place in Belgium and England, and has also included iconic locations like Fort Amherst in Chatham, Medway, Kent which has been used for weapons testing and re-enactments of the battle.

Fort Amherst has tunnels that have featured in many films, such as Sherlock Homles: A Game of Shadows (2011- the tunnels were used as the escape tunnels at the French Resistance in Paris) and The Mission (1986- Fort Amherst’s tunnels were used as part of the convent where Mendoza (Robert De Niro) is being held after he kills his brother).

The program will air on Sunday June 14th June at 10pm on the History UK channel, Sky: 529 and 530 (+1), Virgin Media: 234, BT: 327, TalkTalk: 327.

 

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