Sean Bean

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. 

Age of Heroes (2011)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Age of Heroes cast members standing in a row in uniform with guns. Snowy mountains can be seen behind.

Age of Heroes cast L-R John Dagleish as Rollright, Danny Dyer as Rains, William Houston as Mac, Guy Burnet as Riley, Sean Bean as Jones, Askel Hennie as Steinar © Age of Heroes Ltd.

Director: Adrian Vitoria

Writers: Ed Scates, Adrian Vitoria

Starring: Sean Bean, Danny Dyer, Aksel Hennie,  James D’Arcy

Production Company: Atlantic Swiss Productions/Cinedome/Cinema Five/Giant Films

Kent Filming Locations: Connaught Barracks, Dover, Gravesend Civil Defence Bunker, Pluckley

Sean Bean laying on the dirt staring into a gun looking at the camera

Age of Heroes Sean Bean as Jones © Age of Heroes Ltd.

Age of Heroes is a film based on the real-life events of Ian Fleming’s 30 Commando during the Second World War; a team that was one of the most secretive and exclusive Special Forces regiments and created the mould for the modern day SAS.

The film captures the mentally and physically gruelling training endured by the men before they are assigned to a highly dangerous mission behind enemy lines in occupied Norway.  The mission doesn’t go to plan and they find themselves in a deadly situation, outnumbered by enemy soldiers.  It’s then that they rise above being normal soldiers and become heroes.

Adrian Vitoria (The Crew Hollyoaks: Crossing the Line) directs as well as co-wrote the screenplay alongside Ed Scates. Sean Bean (The Lord of the Rings, The Martian), Danny Dyer (Doghouse, Eastenders), Aksel Hennie (Headhunters, Hercules) and James D’Arcy (Master and Commander, Cloud Atlas) star.

In 2010 film crews arrived in Kent to shoot the action packed thriller – local village Pluckley, famous as the setting for the popular TV programme The Darling Buds of May, were used in several driving shots with actor Sean Bean.

James D'Arcy as Ian Fleming sitting at a wooden desk with a map of the united kingdom pinned to the wall behind him

James D’Arcy as Ian Fleming © Age of Heroes Ltd.

The Gravesend Civil Defence Bunker, built in 1954 as an underground command post to be used in the event of nuclear attack during the Cold War, features in the film. It was used to represent the Cabinet War Rooms in London’s Whitehall.  Nearby Cobham Hall, currently a boarding school for girls is a firm favourite for filming in the district of Gravesham. The site was the perfect location to feature as a boarding school in the 2008 film Wild Child (2008).

Another Ministry of Defence location, the Connaught Barracks were also used for filming as a WWII training base. Situated in the district of Dover, the Connaught Barracks are not the only location to have been used for filming in recent years. The historic Dover Castle is a Kent film location favourite as it has been the star location in a number of productions from Lady Jane (1987) to The Other Boleyn Girl (2008).

Age of Heroes was released in 2011 and is now available on DVD.

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

Henry VIII (2003)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
close up of Ray Winstone wearing a gold crown looking away from the camera

Henry VIII © ITV

Director: Pete Travis

Writer: Peter Morgan

Starring: Ray Winstone, Charles Dance, Mark Strong, David Suchet, Danny Webb, Helena Bonham Carter, Emilia Fox, Sean Bean, Emily Blunt

Production Company: Granada Television, Power, Powercorp, WGBH

Kent locations: Leeds Castle

Henry VIII is an Emmy Award winning two-part TV movie, which follows the life of Henry VIII throughout his radical 38 year reign and unpicks the volatility of Henry’s nature, particularly when it comes to love, as he marries and discards a string of wives with quick succession.

Henry VIII was written by British film writer and playwright Peter Morgan and directed by Pete Travis (Dredd, Vantage Point).

The cast includes an array of renowned British actors, such as Ray Winstone (Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Great Expectations), Charles Dance (Game of Thrones, Alien 3), Mark Strong (Kick Ass, Sherlock Holmes), David Suchet (Poirot, Great Expectations) Danny Webb (Alien 3, Valkyrie), Helena Bonham Carter (Sweeney Todd, The King’s Speech), Emilia Fox (The Pianist, Merlin), Sean Bean (Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones) and Emily Blunt (The Young Victoria, The Devil Wears Prada).

Long shot of Leeds Castle and lake

Leeds Castle in Henry VIII © ITV

Historically, Leeds Castle was used as a palace by Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon but the production chose Leeds Castle to represent exteriors of Henry’s castle in Richmond.

Leeds Castle is near Maidstone and is set within 500 acres of parkland and gardens and surrounded by a moat. Features include original marble bathrooms, a river and maze with shell grotto. The location has previously featured in productions such as Gadget Man (2014), Lady Jane (1987) and Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949).

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

Henry VIII was first shown on ITV in 2003 and is now available to buy on DVD.

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

Essex Boys (2000)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Main poster of the Essex Boys production- black car with essex boys written in yellow

Essex Boys movie poster © Granada Film Productions

Writers: Jeff Pope, Terry Winsor

Director: Terry Winsor

Starring: Sean Bean, Alex Kingston, Tom Wilkinson, Charlie Creed-Miles, Larry Lamb

Production Company: Granada Film Productions

Kent Location: Dartford Crossing

Essex Boys is a British crime thriller based loosely around events in 1995 that culminated in the murder of three drug dealers in Rettendon, Essex. Young taxi driver Billy Reynolds (Charlie Creed-Miles) gives up his job to become the driver for gangster Jason Locke (Sean Bean) and finds himself in some difficult situations.

The film was co-written by Jeff Pope (Cilla, Mo) and Terry Winsor (Mad Money, Party Party) who also directs.

The cast features lots of familiar faces including Sean Bean (Game of Thrones, Lord of The Rings, Martian). Alex Kingston (Doctor Who, American Odyssey, ER), Tom Wilkinson (Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel). Charlie Creed-Miles (Ripper Street, Harry Brown) and Larry Lamb (Gavin and Stacy, Eastenders).

 The Essex Boys production team visited the Dartford Crossing to film scenes where the gang travels from Kent to Essex.

Dartford is a historic town situated close to London and home to one of Europe’s largest shopping centres. The Dartford Crossing – QEII Bridge has also been used as a film location for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 (2010), London Spy (2015), Redemption (2013).

Essex Boys was released on 14th July 2000 and is now available to purchase on DVD.

 

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