The Third Day (2020)

Jude Law as character Sam stands silhouetted by the sun looking towards the ground

The Third Day (2020) with Jude Law © Sky UK Limited

Writers: Dennis Kelly, Dean O’Loughlin, Kit de Waal
Director: Philippa Lowthorpe, Marc Munden
Starring: Jude Law, Naomie Harris, Mark Lewis Jones, Amer Chadha-Patel, Katherine Waterston
Production Company: Plan B Entertainment, Punchdrunk International, SKY Studios
Kent Locations Used: Fog Signal Station, Allens Farm, Chiddingstone, Bedgebury National Pinetum Forest, Hever Castle, Shellness Beach and Huts, Quex Park, St Clere Estate, Grain Coastal Park and and other private Kent locations.

Jude Law (Captain Marvel, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald) leads the cast in mysterious six-part limited series The Third Day (2020) due to air in the UK on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV. Blurring the lines between fantasy and reality, the adventure tale finds Law’s character Sam traveling to a strange island off the British coast where he encounters its inhabitants, eventually clashing with them as his sanity is threatened.

Produced by Plan B Entertainment for HBO, The Third Day also stars Naomie Harris (Skyfall, Spectre), Mark Lewis Jones (The Crown , Chernobyl), Amer Chadha-Patel (Beecham House , Year of the Rabbit ) and Katherine Waterston (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Alien: Covenant). Directed by Marc Munden (Utopia, National Treasure) and Philippa Lowthorpe (Three Girls, The Crown ) the show was written by Dennis Kelly (Utopia, Black Sea) with Kit de Waal and Dean O’Loughlin contributing two episodes.

Production visited many locations in Kent for filming, including Fog Signal Station at Dungeness, Allens Farm, St Clere Estate, Bedgebury National Pinetum Forest, Hever Castle, Quex Park, Grain, Chiddingstone and Shellness Beach.

Chiddingstone is one of the oldest and most picturesque villages in Kent. Within the Sevenoaks District, the village sits on the River Eden between Tonbridge and Edenbridge. Previous productions to film there include Terry and Mason’s Great Food Trip (2015) and Flog It! (2014).

Hever Castle is an outstanding 13th century Tudor castle and moat. The grounds include stunning Italianate gardens, a large lake, as well as a mock Tudor Village. It was the original home of the Boleyn family. Inkheart (2008) and The Other Boleyn Girl (2008) have previously filmed there.

Set in 2800 acres of the rolling Kent countryside, St Clere estate offers stunning views of the North Downs, formal gardens, paddocks, a meadow, ploughed fields, a kitchen garden, orangery, green houses, workshops and stunning features such as a hawthorn archway, lime avenue and a temple by the lake. Gangs of London (2020) and The Great (2020) have recently filmed here.

Shellness Beach has an area of mixed sand and shingle beach adjoining Shellness on the Isle of Sheppey. The beach is bordered by private chalets, some of which are available for filming. Both Dark Heart Series 1 (2018) and Kiss Me First (2018) have previously filmed here.

Situated in Dungeness on the Kent coast, The Fog Signal Station has been re-furbished to an incredible standard from old government buildings into contemporary dwellings. The interior leads outside via large glass doors on to decking and shingle. Vistas from the site include two light houses and a look-out tower. Una (2017) and All Or Nothing (2002) have previously filmed at Dungeness.

Allens Farm is a beautiful in the heart of the Sevenoaks district. Recent productions to have filmed in Sevenoaks include Gangs of London (2020) and The First Team (2020).

Bedgebury National Pinetum Forest in Tunbridge Wells has the world’s finest collection of Conifers. The site is a mixture of lakes, valleys, parkland and denser forest with a large variety of tree species. There are also adventure playgrounds, a Go Ape facility, restaurant, cafe and bike hire. Rupert, Rupert and Rupert (2019) and Queens of Mystery (2019) have previously filmed in Tunbridge Wells.

Quex Park is a regency-style country estate with a unique museum containing dioramas of African landscapes and gardens. The science fiction show Blakes 7 – Bounty (1978)  was filmed here.

Grain Coastal Park on the Isle of Grain gives visitors a chance to walk along two miles of shoreline and pass by ancient Forts. There are also leafy avenues with tunnels of trees that host a variety of wildflowers. Peterloo (2018) and London Spy (2015) have both previously made use of the various locations available on the Isle of Grain.

The Third Day will be available to stream on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV from Tuesday 15th September 2020.

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


Genius (2016)

Actor Guy Pearce wearing a beige top siting on a sofa smoking, looking away from the camera. Drinks and books can be seen in front of him.

Guy Pearce in Genius (2016)

 

Writer: John Logan (screenplay) A. Scott. Berg (writer)

Director: Michael Grandage

Starring: Colin Firth, Jude Law, Nicole Kidman, Laura Linney, Guy Pearce, Dominic West, Vanessa Kirby

Producers: James J. Bagley, A. Scott. Berg, Tim Bevan and James Bierman

Production Company: Desert Wolf Productions, Michael Grandage Company, Riverstone Pictures, Ingenious, Pinewood Pictures

Kent Locations Used: The Historic Dockyard Chatham

Genius is a drama about the complex transformative relationship between the world-renowned book editor Maxwell Perkins (Colin Firth), who discovered F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway, and the larger-than-life literary giant Thomas Wolfe (Jude Law).

The film stars: Colin Firth (The King’s Speech/Kingsman: The Secret Service), Jude Law (Dom Hemingway/Spy), Nicole Kidman (Grace of Monaco/Paddington), Laura Linney (The Big C/Mr Holmes), Guy Pearce (Iron Man 3/The Rover), Dominic West (Burton and Taylor/Testament of Youth), Vanessa Kirby (About Time/Jupiter Ascending). The film was directed by Michael Grandage (The Madness of King George/Bugs). The film was written by John Logan (Skyfall/Spectre) and A. Scott. Berg (The Colbert Report/Facing the Nation).

The bustling docks and streets of 1920s New York were filmed at The Historic Dockyard Chatham. The scenes mostly revolved around where Thomas Wolfe (Jude Law) lived in New York. The Dockyard is a popular location for period dramas due to it’s Georgian and Victorian buildings and cobbled streets. The Dockyard has previously featured on screen in a number of early 20th century dramas including The Crown (2016),  Suffragette (2015) and Downton Abbey (2013).

Genius was released in cinemas on 10th June 2016.

Genius trailer – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCvcD3IBSlc

 

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


Black Sea (2014)

Jude Law sitting at a table with bars of gold in front of him.

Jude Law as submarine Captain Robinson © Universal, Alex Bailey, Focus Features.

Director: Kevin Macdonald

Writer: Dennis Kelly

Starring: Jude Law, Jodie Whittaker, Michael Smiley, Scoot McNairy, Ben Mendelsohn

Production company: Film4 Productions, Cowboy Films, Etalon Film

Kent locations: Black Widow Submarine, River Medway

Black Sea is an adventure thriller about a rogue submarine captain who brings together a misfit crew to seek out a sunken treasure rumoured to be lost in the depths of the Black Sea.

The film was written by Dennis Kelly (Utopia, Pulling), directed by Kevin Macdonald (The Last King of Scotland, Touching the Void) and stars a number of acting talents including Jude Law (Sherlock Holmes, Cold Mountain), Scoot McNairy (Argo, 12 Years a Slave), Ben Mendelsohn (The Dark Knight Rises, Killing Them Softly), Jodie Whittaker (Broadchurch, One Day) and Michael Smiley (The World’s End, The Other Boleyn Girl).

The Black Sea production team visited the Black Widow Submarine, which is moored in Strood on the River Medway in August 2013 to film submarine interiors.

The Black Widow is an ex Russian Foxtrot Submarine which was built in 1967 and was in active service until 1994. The submarine was also used in 2013 for the shooting of The Fitzroy, a black comedy about a leaky submarine hotel.

Strood is in the Medway towns and productions that have previously filmed in the area include Mr Turner (2014), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (2012) and The Golden Compass (2007).

Black Sea is released in cinemas on Friday 5th December 2014.

 

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


Dom Hemingway (2013)

Dom Hemingway (Jude Law) smoking in front of a brick building

Dom Hemingway (Jude Law) © Nick Wall and Lionsgate UK

 

Director and writer: Richard Shepard

Starring: Jude Law, Richard E. Grant, Demian Bichir, Emilia Clarke, Jumayn Hunter, Mădălina Diana Ghenea, Kerry Condon

Production company: BBC Films, Isle of Man Film, Pinewood Pictures, Recorded Picture Company

Kent locations used:  The Historic Dockyard Chatham

Released from prison after a 12-year stretch, larger-than-life safecracker Dom Hemingway  is determined to get what he’s owed for keeping quiet about the last job. But after visiting his boss, Dom decides his promised reward isn’t enough to replace what he’s lost. Characteristically for the notorious criminal with a drug and drink-fuelled ego, Dom manages to mess everything up before deciding on his real priorities.

Directed by Richard Shepard (The Matador) and starring Jude Law (Sherlock Holmes, Side Effects) as Dom Hemingway, alongside Richard E. Grant (Withnail and I, The Iron Lady) Kerry Condon (The Runway) and Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones).

At the end of 2012, the Dom Hemingway production team came to The Historic Dockyard Chatham which doubled as the prison exterior for the scenes where Dom Hemingway (Jude Law) is released.

The Historic Dockyard Chatham is set over eighty acres and has a variety of buildings dating from the Tudor, Georgian and Victorian periods. Its rich history and authentic look and feel have led several film and television crews to film here including Mr. Selfridge (2013), Les Miserables (2012) and The Golden Compass (2007).

Dom Hemingway was in cinemas on Friday 15th November 2013 and is now available to buy on DVD.

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


Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows (2011)

 

 

Jude Law and Robert Downey Jr infront of a view of London

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows Movie Poster © Warner Bros.

Director: Guy Ritchie

Producer:  Bruce Berman

Writers: Michael Mulroney, Kieran Mulroney (Screenplay) & Arthur Conan Doyle (Novel)

Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Jude Law, Eddie Marsan, Noomi Rapace, Jared Harris & Stephen Fry

Production Company: Village Roadshow Pictures, Silver Pictures, Wigram Productions

Kent Locations Used: The Historic Dockyard Chatham, Port of Dover, White Cliffs of Dover, The Waverley Paddlesteamer, Knole & Fort Amherst

Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law revisit their roles as the great Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson in Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows. When the Crown Prince of Austria is found dead, inspector Lestrade (Eddie Marsdan-Law and Order UK ) believes it to be suicide. But Holmes deduces that the prince has been a victim in a murder that is part of a larger and more elaborate plot designed by Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris- Fringe).

Holmes tracks down the clues to a gentleman’s club where he and his brother Mycroft Holmes (Stephen Fry-Alice in Wonderland) celebrate to Dr Watson’s final night of bachelorhood. There Holmes meets the mysterious fortune teller Sim (Noomi Rapace-The Girl Who kicked the Hornet’s Nest) whose unwitting involvement with the Crown Prince’s murder makes her the next target for the killer.

Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows was adapted by Michele Mulroney (Unlikely Hero, Sunny & Share Love You) and Kieran Mulroney (Paper Man) and directed by Guy Ritchie (Snatch, RocknRolla).  Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man, Tropic Thunder) and Jude Law (The Talented Mr. Ripley, Enemy at the Gates) return in the starring roles alongside Noomi Rapace (The Drop, Child 44), Rachel McAdams (The Notebook, Spotlight), Stephen Fry (V for Vendetta Alice in Wonderland) and Jared Harris (Lincoln, The Boxtrolls).

A number of popular Kent locations take a starring role in this latest blockbuster from director Guy Ritchie. The cast and crew returned to The Historic Dockyard Chatham where the Punchbowl Pub fight scenes and the hanging of Lord Blackwood amongst other scenes were filmed for the first movie.  Eagle eyed viewers should watch the trailer below and see if they can spot the dockyards alongside the other Kent Locations! The Historic Dockyard Chatham is a popular film location, having previously featured in Rustom (2016) and Oliver Twist (2007).

The production company also visited the Port of Dover  where they boarded the Waverley Paddle Steamer to film the White Cliffs of Dover. The paddle steamer was re-built in 1947 after the original was sunk off Dunkirk in 1940 and now sails around the country offering tours to the general public. The Port of Dover can be seen in Johnny English (2003) starring Rowan Atkinson and in the James Bond classic Diamonds are Forever (1971) starring Sean Connery as the location for a dramatic hovercraft scene.

National Trust Property Knole in Sevenoaks was also used, though you’ll have a hard time spotting the structure of the inner courtyard in its new Alpine setting. Adored by Henry VII and given to him by the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1538, it later was presented to the Sackville family by Elizabeth I. The house showcases stunning architecture, priceless Stuart furniture and is set at the heart of the only remaining deer park in the county.  A popular film location it has appeared in Great British Railway Journeys – Series 7 (2016) and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011).

Lastly, crews took to Fort Amherst in Chatham to shoot scenes for the film. The extensive tunnels were the perfect double for the Paris sewer system. The fort is Britain’s largest Napoleonic Fortress and with an impressive network of historic buildings across 20 acres, it is becoming a firm favourite for film productions. Fort Amherst has also featured in Jekyll and Hyde (2016) and The Saint (1997). Considered one of Britain’s most haunted Forts, it is open to the public, though apparently you’ll risk meeting one of the many poltergeists and ghostly apparitions that walk there.

Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows was released in cinemas in  December 2011 and is now available to buy on DVD.

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


Sherlock Holmes (2009)

Sherlock Holmes Poster- Sherlock holmes staring at the camera with his hands in his pockets, smokey london skyline can be seen behind. HOLMES reads across the middle

Sherlock Holmes Poster

The Victorian Sleuth returns to our screens in an all action film

Director: Guy Richie

Writer: Simon Kinberg, Anthony Peckham

Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong, Eddie Marsan and Kelly Reilly

Production Company: Silver Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures, Wigram Productions

Kent Filming Locations: The Historic Dockyard Chatham

Boxing day 2009 saw the release of the new Sherlock Holmes movie directed by British filmmaker Guy Ritchie. Fans expecting a classic ‘Sherlock’ adaptation complete with smoking pipe and deerstalker hat will be disappointed. This interpretation of Holmes is fast paced and action filled, taking its cue from modern graphic novels.

Based on an unpublished comic book by Lionel Wigram, the film features

Arthur Conan Doyle’s legendary characters Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr) and Dr Watson (Jude Law). Set in 1891, the film sees Holmes and Watson trying to stop Lord Blackwood’s (Mark Strong) conspiracy to destroy Britain. To thwart this deadly plot, Sherlock’s brilliance and intellect are called upon alongside some newly acquired skills:bare knuckle and sword fighting.

Directed by Guy Ritchie (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch) written by Simon Kinberg (Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Jumper) and Anthony Peckham (Don’t Say A Word, Invictus) and starring Robert Downey Jr (Zodiac, Iron Man) and Jude Law (Cold Mountain, Alfie). Rachel McAdams (Mean Girls, The Notebook), Mark Strong (Body of Lies, The Young Victoria), Eddie Marsan (V for Vendetta, Happy-Go-Lucky) and Kelly Reilly (Pride & Prejudice, Me and Orson Welles.

Ritchie and the all star cast came to The Historic Dockyard Chatham to film parts of the movie. The Historic Dockyard Chatham proved to be an ideal location with its cobbled streets, industrial buildings and authentic Victorian architecture. If you watch carefully you will notice the following locations.

  • Punchbowl Pub interior: fight scene
  • Punch Bowl pub exterior: various characters entering the pub
  • Main Gate (the seal): entering the prison to see Blackwood
  • Hemp House 3: Hanging of Lord Blackwood
  • Ropery courtyard: Prison exterior scene with Holmes and Watson locked up in the prison yard
  • Chain and Cable shed: chase scene with hansom cabs before the slip 7 scene where the ship enters the Thames
  • Slip 7: The fight with Dredger around the ship in slip 7
 

Behind the scenes image of the shipyard at Ship 7 at The Historic Dockyard Chatham

Behind the scenes image of the shipyard at Ship 7 at The Historic Dockyard Chatham © The Historic Dockyard Chatham

 

Behind the scenes image of the exterior of the Punch Bowl Pub at The Historic Dockyard Chatham at the bottom of a cobbled street

Behind the scenes image of the exterior of the Punch Bowl Pub at The Historic Dockyard Chatham © The Historic Dockyard Chatham

The Historic Dockyard Chatham remains a top Kent filming location due to its unblemished historical surroundings, authentic backdrops, cobbled streets and Georgian and Victorian architecture. It has previously been used in productions such as BBC’s Oliver Twist (2007), The Golden Compass (2007) and Vanity Fair (2005).

Sherlock Holmes was released in cinemas on December 2009 and is now available to buy on DVD.

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