Mark Gatiss

The Amazing Mr Blunden (2021)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Simon Callow, as Mr Blunden, stands in the centre of the frame. Either side of him, peering over some large decorative ornaments, are two children Jamie, played by Jason Rennie, on the left, and Lucy, played by Tsion Habte, on the right. They are inside of a historic looking room with dark orange walls. On either side are windows covered by lace net curtains, and large drawn open grey curtains. Jamie has short curly black hair and wears a black unzipped hoodie with a red t-shirt. Only Lucy’s head is visible, and she has long curly black hair. Mr Blunden has receding white hair and a full grey beard. He wears a long brown woollen coat, with a brown waistcoat underneath and a large red woollen scarf wrapped around his neck. All three characters look nervously off-screen.

The Amazing Mr Blunden © Sky

Writer: Mark Gatiss
Director: Mark Gatiss
Starring: Simon Callow, Tamsin Greig, Mark Gatiss, Tsion Habte, Jason Rennie, India Fowler, Xavier Wilkins
Production Company: Adorable Media
Kent Locations Used: Finchcocks

Based on the 1972 family film of the same name, The Amazing Mr Blunden (2021) tells the story of modern teenagers Lucy and Jamie, whose encounter with a mysterious old man called Mr Blunden leads to them becoming caretakers of an old country home. They soon discover that the home is haunted by the spirits of two young children, Sara and Georgie, and with the help of Mr Blunden, the two teens must travel back in time to save the children’s lives.

Written and directed by Mark Gatiss (Sherlock, Doctor Who), The Amazing Mr Blunden stars renowned actor Simon Callow (Four Weddings and a Funeral, A Room with a View (1985)) as Mr. Blunden, Tamsin Greig (Episodes, Friday Night Dinner) as Mrs. Wickens and Mark Gatiss as Mr. Wickens, as well as newcomers Tsion Habte (Liar (2017-2020), Sex Education (2021)) as Lucy, Jason Rennie as Jamie, India Fowler (Safe) as Sara and Xavier Wilkins as Georgie.

The production team visited Kent for their shoot, using Finchcocks in Goudhurst as Langley Park, the house the two teenagers are tasked with looking after. Built in 1725, Finchcocks is a fine early Georgian Manor set in 13 acres of parkland and gardens, with extensive views over the Kentish landscape. It is noted for its brickwork, with a dramatic baroque front elevation. For many years, the Manor played host to a Musical Museum, which housed around 115 period keyboard instruments, many of which have featured in TV and film themselves. Now operating as both a family home and a piano workshop retreat, Finchcocks has previously been used as the setting for a Pride and Prejudice sketch in the BBC show French and Saunders (1996).

The Amazing Mr Blunden aired on Sky and NowTV on Friday 24th December 2021.

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

The Mercy (2018)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Colin Firth and Rachel Weisz in The Mercy Official Poster close up of faces looking into distance. The Mercy written in white

Colin Firth and Rachel Weisz in The Mercy (2018) ©Studio Canal

Writer: Scott Z. Burns

Director: James Marsh

Starring: Colin Firth, Rachel Weisz, David Thewlis, Mark Gatiss

Production Company: Blueprint Pictures

Kent Locations Used: Chatham Dockyard and Bewl Water

Colin Firth in The Mercy standing on boat with mast behind. He wears a pale blue shirt and cream trousers.

Colin Firth in The Mercy (2018 ) ©Studio Canal

The film tells the true story of Donald Crowhurst (Colin Firth), a yachtsman who went missing during his attempt to win the 1968 Golden Globe Race when he decided to turn his attempt into a disastrous attempt of travelling the world alone by sea.

Directed by James Marsh (The Theory of Everything, Shadow Dancer) and written by Scott Z. Burns (Contagion, The Bourne Ultimatum). The film stars Colin Firth (Kingsman: The Secret Service, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy),  Rachel Weisz (The Mummy, Oz the Great and Powerful), David Thewlis (Wonder Woman, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,) and Mark Gatiss (The League of Gentlemen, Sherlock).

Rachel Weisz in The Mercy 2018. Rachel and 3 children stand against a harbour wall looking out to see.

Rachel Weisz in The Mercy 2018 ©Studio Canal

 

 

Some scenes were filmed at The Historic Dockyard Chatham, where the HMS Gannet was used as the port where the wives of the competition sailors posed for the press. As well as filming at Bewl Water reservoir in Kent, which features as the Teignmouth inlet where Donald Crowhurst (Colin Firth) sails locally alone and with his family. The Historic Dockyard with its Victorian and Georgian architecture has featured in films such as Victoria and Abdul (2017) and Guy Ritchies’ Mr Holmes (2015). Bewl Water is the largest body of inland water in the South East and situated within the High Weald, an area of outstanding natural beauty.

 

 

The Mercy will be in theatres in the UK from the 9th February 2018.

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

 

Victor Frankenstein (2015)

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Victor Frankenstein Poster-James McAvoy and daniel radcliffe staring at the camera with a dead body on an operating table covered by a white cloth is underneath. Victor Frankenstein reads in silver.

Victor Frankenstein Poster © Fox UK Film

 

Director: Paul McGuigan

Writer: Max Landis (screenplay)

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Andrew Scott, James McAvoy, Jessica Brown Findlay, Charles Dance, Mark Gatiss, Louise Brealey

Production companies: Davis Entertainment Company, TSG Entertainment

Kent Locations Used: The Historic Dockyard Chatham 

Victor Frankenstein is a dark, contemporary twist on the classic tale of Frankenstein, told from the point of view of Igor (Daniel Radcliffe) who befriends radical young scientist Victor Von Frankenstein (James McAvoy). Together they envisage innovative research into immortality to aid human suffering, but it is not long before the experiments go too far and Victor’s ambition leads to horrifying consequences. Can Igor save them both from Victor’s creation?

The screenplay is adapted by Max Landis (Fear Itself, Me Him Her), based on the novel by Mary Shelley, written almost 200 years ago.

The film is directed by Paul McGuigan (Sherlock, Push) with a stellar cast including Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter, The Woman in Black) and James McAvoy (X-Men: Days of Future Past, The Last King of Scotland), Andrew Scott (Saving Private Ryan, Spectre), Jessica Brown Findlay (Albatross, Downton Abbey), Charles Dance (The Imitation Game, Game of Thrones), Mark Gatiss (Wolf Hall, Doctor Who) and Louise Brealey (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Ripper Street).

The production visited The Historic Dockyard Chatham to film some exterior scenes by the Chain and Cable store, the Tarred Yarn Store, which doubled as a hospital interior, and additional outdoor street scenes.

The Historic Dockyard Chatham is a popular filming location which offers Georgian and Victorian buildings and authentic cobbled streets. The Historic Dockyard Chatham has previously featured in Suffragette (2015), Mr Turner (2014) and Dom Hemingway (2013).

Victor Frankenstein is released in cinemas on 4th December 2015.

 

 

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

Wolf Hall (2015)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Claire Foy as Anne Boleyn and Damian Lewis as King Henry Eighth on the Wolf Hall set

Anne Boleyn (CLAIRE FOY), King Henry VIII (DAMIAN LEWIS), © BBC Company Productions Ltd

Writer: Peter Straughan, Hilary Mantel (novel)

Director: Peter Kosminsky

Starring: Mark Rylance, Damian Lewis, Claire Foy, Mark Gatiss, Jonathan Pryce

Production company: Company Pictures

Kent locations: Penshurst Place, Dover Castle

This January, BBC Two airs new British drama Wolf Hall, charting the meteoric rise of Thomas Cromwell in the Tudor Court, from his lowly start as a blacksmith’s son to becoming Henry VIII’s closest advisor.

The six part series is based on Hilary Mantel’s Booker Prize-winning novels, Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies and the screenplay was written by Oscar-nominated Peter Straughan (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Frank).

BAFTA-winning Peter Kosminsky (Britz, The Promise) directs the miniseries which boasts a host of acting talent, such as Mark Rylance (Britz, Hamlet), Damian Lewis (Homeland, Romeo and Juliet), Claire Foy (Season of the Witch, Crossbones), Mark Gatiss (Sherlock, Game of Thrones) and Jonathan Pryce (Brazil, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest).

Mark Rylance as Thomas Cromwell and cast members behind the scenes on Wolf Hall being filmed by camera crew on a pathway

Thomas Cromwell (MARK RYLANCE) ©BBCCompany Productions Ltd

In May 2014, the production team visited Penshurst Place to film at a variety of rooms to double for York Place and Whitehall. In July 2014, the production returned to Kent, this time filming at Dover Castle which doubled as The Tower of London for the execution of Anne Boleyn scenes.

Penshurst Place is a Medieval and Tudor fortified style manor house set in gorgeous parkland in West Kent and boasts formal Elizabethan gardens. Penshurst Place is a popular film location, having previously welcomed productions such as The Great Fire (2014), The Hollow Crown – Henry V (2012) and The Other Boleyn Girl (2008).

Dover Castle is a stunning medieval castle situated on the White Cliffs of Dover, overlooking the English Channel. Dover Castle has previously been used for filming by a variety of productions including Into The Woods (2015), Poirot “The Clocks” (2009) and The Other Boleyn Girl (2008).

Wolf Hall also features in the Kent Film Office Tudor(ish) Trail which celebrates Kent’s Tudor history and film connections.

Wolf Hall aired on BBC Two from Wednesday 21st January 2015 at 21:00 and is now available for DVD and online purchase.

 

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

Mapp and Lucia (2014)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Elizabeth Mapp (MIRANDA RICHARDSON), Emmeline 'Lucia' Lucas (ANNA CHANCELLOR) standing in a garden behind a table and chairs with food on

Elizabeth Mapp (MIRANDA RICHARDSON), Emmeline ‘Lucia’ Lucas (ANNA CHANCELLOR) © BBC/Nick Briggs

Director: Diarmuid Lawrence

Writer: Steve Pemberton

Starring: Miranda Richardson, Anna Chancellor, Steve Pemberton, Mark Gatiss, Frances Barber, Felicity Montagu, Gemma Whelan

Production Company: BBC

Kent Locations: Kent & East Sussex Railway – Tenterden Station

This Christmas, the BBC offers a new three part adaptation of E.F. Benson’s Mapp & Lucia novels set in 1930 in the quaint village of Tilling. The eccentric residents live in a world filled with gossip and petty one up-manship and the village’s renowned schemers, Miss Elizabeth Mapp and Mrs Emmeline Lucas, battle for social supremacy over garden produce, bridge and a fund-raising fete.

The mini-series is a satire, adapted and starring Steve Pemberton (The League of Gentlemen, Benidorm) and directed by Diarmuid Lawrence (The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Emma).

Miranda Richardson (Parade’s End, The Phantom of the Opera) plays Mapp with Anna Chancellor (Pramface, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy) as Lucia. Starring alongside the pair are Mark Gatiss (Sherlock, Match Point Match Point), Frances Barber (Silk, Doctor Who), Felicity Montagu (Alan Partridge, Bridget Jones’s Diary), and Gemma Whelan (The Wolfman, Gulliver’s Travels).

In July 2013, the Mapp and Lucia production team filmed in Kent when they visited period railway Kent & East Sussex Railway‘s Tenterden Station.

Kent & East Sussex Railway is a ten and a half mile rural light railway from Tenterden to East Sussex. Kent & East Sussex Railway has previously featured in various film and TV productions such as Last Passenger (2013).

Mapp and Lucia starts on BBC One on Monday 29th December 2014 at 21.05.

 

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