Spy

Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London (2004)

Posted on by Kent Film Office

Writer: Jeffrey Jurgensen, Harald Zwart, Dylan Sellers, Don Rhymer

Director: Kevin Allen

Starring: Frankie Muniz, Anthony Anderson, Hannah Spearritt, Keith Allen

Production Company: Dylan Sellers Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Splendid Pictures, Madacy Entertainment, Maverick Films

Kent Locations Used: Cobham Hall

Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London is the sequel to action movie Agent Cody Banks. The story follows teenager turned secret agent, Cody Banks (Frankie Muniz) and his new partner Derek Bowman (Anthony Anderson) as they try to stop former CIA agent, Victor Diaz (Keith Allen) who plans to use a mind control device to take over the world.

The film is directed by Kevin Allen (Trainspotting, Spice World) and is written by Jeffrey Jurgensen (Agent Cody Banks), Harald Zwart (The Karate Kid, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones), Dylan Sellers (The Giver, Southpaw) and Don Rhymer (Surf’s Up, Rio). 

Frankie Muniz (Malcolm in the Middle, My Dog Skip) stars as Agent Cody Banks alongside Anthony Anderson (Transformers, The Departed), Hannah Spearritt (Primeval, Seed of Chucky) and Keith Allen (Trainspotting, The Others). 

The Gilt Hall at Cobham Hall was used as a film location for Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London doubling as the Queen’s gift room at Buckingham Palace and features at the end of the film where Cody Banks (Frankie Muniz) fights Diaz (Keith Allen) in a room full of treasures.

Cobham Hall is an outstanding private school in a historic house with surrounding parkland and includes a ballroom, library, courtyards and sports facilities. It has previously been used as locations for Hetty Feather (2015-2016), Wild Child (2008) and Bleak House (2005). 

The film was released 26th March 2004 and is now available on DVD.

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

Johnny English (2003)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Johnny English Movie Poster - Rowan Atkinson in a suit and bow tie holding his fingers in a gun shape. Johnny English written in white. He knows no fear he knows no danger he know nothing written above.

Johnny English © Universal Pictures

Directed By: Peter Howitt

Written By: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade & William Davis

Starring: Rowan Atkinson, Ben Miller, Natalie Imbruglia and John Malkovich

Production Company: Universal Pictures,StudioCanal,Working Title Films

Kent Locations Used: A2 Carriageway (leading to Jubilee Way) and the Port of Dover

After an unexpected bomb attack on the MI5, incompetent spy Johnny English is the only agent left alive when the crown jewels are stolen. English and his sidekick Bough (Ben Miller) are assigned to the case. For English, the prime suspect is mysterious French Entrepreneur Pascal Sauvage (John Malkovich). They soon learn the horrifying plan behind the theft, for Sauvage intends to wear them when he is crowned King of England.

The film is directed by Peter Howitt (Sliding Doors, Antitrust) and written by writing duo Neal Purvis and Robert Wade (SS-GB, Spectre), who met at University of Kent alongside William Davis (Puss in Boots, Ignition).

Rowan Atkinson (Bean, The Lion King) takes the feature role with a supporting cast of Ben Miller (Death in Paradise, The Armstrong and Miller Show), Natalie Imbruglia (Neighbours, Closed for Winter) and John Malkovich (RED,  Dangerous Liaisons).

Johnny English soon meets Interpol Agent, Lorna Campbell (Natalie Imbruglia). After his case is taken away from him, she tracks him down and together they vow to stop Sauvage’s plan. As English and Campbell race to France they drive down the familiar A2 carriageway leading to Jubilee Way. Kent’s brief cameo continues as we see the car drive down Marine Parade past the sign for the Port of Dover.

 

The cameras would not have been a strange sight to local Dover residents. The town and surrounding landmarks have played host to many productions over the years. The famous Dover Castle alone has starred in many feature films. The site can be seen replicating another iconic British landmark like the Tower of London in the films Lady Jane (1987) and The Other Boleyn Girl (2008).

Johnny English is not the only spy to have visited the Port of Dover. In the famous 1971 film Diamonds Are Forever (1971), Sean Connery stars as the suave spy 007. The Port makes its appearance as 007 foils diamond smuggler Peter Franks and boards a hovercraft bound for Amsterdam.

Johnny English was released in cinemas in April 2003 and can now be purchased on DVD.

 

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

Die Another Day (2002)

Posted on by Kent Film Office

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 Airport

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 Airport in Ramsgate to film the Antonov cargo plane scenes towards the end of the film. The Thanet area has been previously used for filming 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. 

The World is Not Enough (1999)

Posted on by Kent Film Office

Director: Michael Apted 

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

Starring:  Pierce Brosnan, John Cleese, Sophie Marceau, Robert Carlyle, Judi Dench, Denise Richards

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

Kent locations used: The Historic Dockyard Chatham

The World is Not Enough is the nineteenth film in the James Bond series and sees Bond, played by Pierce Brosnan, return to protect the world from a nuclear bomb threat whilst protecting the heiress and daughter of an oil tycoon murdered at MI6.

Directed by Michael Apted (The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader) and starring screen favourites as Pierce Brosnan (Tomorrow Never Dies, Die Another Day), Robert Carlyle (The Full Monty, Trainspotting), Sophie Marceau (Braveheart, Beyond The Clouds), John Cleese (Fawlty Towers, A Fish Called Wanda) and Judi Dench (Die Another Day, Ladies in Lavender).

The World is Not Enough was a smash hit at the box office and became the highest earning James Bond film until Die Another Day was released in 2002. The film also won several awards for best film of its genre and best actor, Pierce Brosnan.

The Historic Dockyard in Chatham was used as the location for a section of the action packed boat chase at the start of the film where the boat goes across a road, through a boat house and down an arched alleyway. If you look closely you can see Chatham High Street just before Bond sails past the O2.

A popular filming location for the big and small screen The Historic Dockyard has also featured in productions such as Les Miserables (2013), The Golden Compass (2007) and the BBC adaptation of Oliver Twist (2007).

The film was released in November 1999 and is now available to buy on DVD.

 

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