Johnny English Reborn (2011)

Rowan Atkinson as Johnny Engish holiday a gun with fire behind him, Johhny English Reborn written underneath

Johnny English Reborn © Universal Pictures

Director: Oliver Parker

Starring: Rowan Atkinson, Gillian Anderson, Dominic West, Rosamund Pike

Production Company: StudioCanal, Relativity Media, Working Title Films

Kent Filming Locations: The A299 carriageway and Cliffs End, Ramsgate.

Released in cinemas from October 7th, Johnny English Reborn sees M17’s deadliest secret agent in his latest adventure. After a failed mission, Johnny English retreated from service to hone his skills in a remote region of Asia. But when a plot to kill the Chinese premier is discovered, the agency must track down the only man who can stop it… Johnny English.

As the clock counts down to a Heads of State conference, high-tech gadgets and the improbable skills of English reveal that the layers of conspiracy are far reaching: all the way back to MI7.

As always, Johnny English goes to show that a “little intelligence goes a long way”.

Rowan Atkinson (Love Actually, Bean) returns as the haphazard Johnny English with a supporting cast including Gillian Anderson (The X Files, The Last King of Scotland), Dominic West (300, The Wire) and Rosamund Pike (Jack Reacher, Die Another Day).

The A299 carriageway, that runs from Faversham to Ramsgate was used to film a high speed car chase. This was made possible by the introduction of the KCC (filming on Highways) Act 2010, which allows Kent County Council to effect road closure to facilitate filming.

Cliff’s End in Ramsgate was also used as a filming location. Ramsgate is a popular coastal filming location for the county and home to the only “Royal” harbour in the country. Ramsgate has previously been seen in comedy series Not Going Out (2013), drama Hancock and Joan (2008) and the independent film Gypo (2006).

Johnny English Reborn was released in cinemas in October 2011 and is now available on DVD.

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


Pride and Prejudice (2005)

Elizabeth Bennett (Keira Knightley) and Mrs Bennet (Brenda Blethyn) running down some steps in a garden, plants and shrubbery either side of path

Elizabeth Bennett (Keira Knightley) and Mrs Bennet (Brenda Blethyn)

Director: Joe Wright

Writer: Deborah Moggach

Starring: Keira Knightley, Brenda Blethyn, Matthew Macfadyen, Judy Dench, Talulah Riley, Kelly Reilly, Rosamund Pike, Donald Sutherland, Jena Malone, Carey Mulligan

Production Company: Focus Features, Universal Pictures, StudioCanal, Working Title Films, Scion Films

Kent Filming Locations: Groombridge Place and Gardens

Jane Austen’s classic love story “Pride and Prejudice” is adapted for the big screen with an all-star cast which follows Elisabeth Bennett (Keira Knightley) through the trials and tribulations of love in the 1800’s. A first encounter between head strong Elisabeth and the rich and cold Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen) leaves Elisabeth hating him and declaring that he is the ‘last person’ she could ever marry. Are they able to overcome their ‘pride and prejudices’ to realise that they truly are meant to be together?

Directed by Joe Wright (Atonement, Hanna) and starring a wealth of acting talent including Keira Knightley (Pirates of the Caribbean series, Anna Karenina), Brenda Blethyn (Vera, Secrets and Lies), Matthew Macfadyen (The Three Musketeers, Frost/Nixon), Judy Dench (Philomena, Skyfall), Talulah Riley (Inception,  St. Trinian’s), Kelly Reilly (Sherlock Holmes, Flight), Rosamund Pike (Jack Reacher, Die Another Day), Donald Sutherland (The Hunger Games, The Italian Job), Jena Malone (Step Mom, Sucker Punch) and Carey Mulligan (Drive, Never Let Me Go).

Keira sitting under a tree at Groombridge holding a stick

Elizabeth Bennett (Keira Knightley) sitting under a tree at Groombridge © Groombridge Place

Groombridge Place in Tunbridge Wells was chosen for the perfect location to where they made use of the 17th century house, gardens, extensive woodlands and lake which doubled as the Bennett’s house and grounds.

Jane Austen has many connections with the county as her family originated from Kent and her brother Edward Knight owned Godmersham Park which lies between Ashford and Canterbury. Both Jane and her sister Cassandra were frequent visitors; this is perhaps why Kent appears throughout her novel Pride and Prejudice and it is therefore no surprise that Kent was chosen as the prime location for the new adaptation.

Pride and Prejudice was released in cinemas in September 2005 and can now be bought on DVD.

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


Die Another Day (2002)

Die Another Day Movie Poster - James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) and Giacinta 'Jinx' Johnson (Halle Berry) pointing guns through a montage of images from the film. Die another day written in red

Die Another Day © MovieposterDB

Director: Lee Tamahori

Writers: Ian Fleming (Novel), Neal Purvis and Robert Wade (Screenplay)

Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Halle Berry, Rosamund Pike, Judi Dench, John Cleese, Michael Madsen

Production Company: Eon Productions, Danjaq, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), United Artists

Kent Locations Used: Manston International Airport, now Stone Hill Park

Die Another Day is the twentieth film in the James Bond series, based on the original character created by Ian Fleming and marked the franchise’s 40th anniversary.

With Pierce Brosnan (Mamma Mia!, Dante’s Peak) taking the James Bond starring role for the fourth and final time, Halle Berry (Cloud Atlas Cloud Atlas, Monster’s Ball), Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl, Jack Reacher), Judi Dench (Notes on a Scandal, Iris), John Cleese (A Fish Called Wanda, Trolls) and Michael Madsen (Reservoir Dogs, The Hateful Eight).

The film sees Bond captured on a mission in North Korea after his true identity was leaked. A year later, he is released in exchange for a terrorist but MI6 relieve him of his “00” because they suspect he gave away secrets during his capture. Trying to prove his innocence, Bond sets off to find his betrayer as well as the terrorist he was exchanged for who has an evil plan – will Bond be able to stop him?

With an A-list cast including Pierce Brosnan as James Bond, Halle Berry as sidekick Giacinta ‘Jinx’ Johnson as well as Rosamund Pike, Judi Dench, John Cleese, Michael Madsen and even an appearance from Madonna!

The Die Another Day team visited the now closed Manston International Airport (now Stone Hill Park) in Ramsgate to film the Antonov cargo plane scenes towards the end of the film. The Thanet area has been previously used for filming Coast Vs Country (2016)True Love (2012) and Gypo (2006).

The film is now out to buy on DVD.

 

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