WB Plans for Permanent UK Studio at Leavesden; Public Harry Potter Sets Attraction Approved
Movies
Posted by: Edward
April 22, 2010, 10:24 PM
As readers will recall, potential plans for a permeant UK film base and Harry Potter visitor attraction at Leavesden Studios, the home-base for the production of the Harry Potter films, has been in the news as proposals passed through city council boards. News has come today courtesy of the Wadford Observer that plans for the expansion have been approved by the Three Rivers District Council’s development control committee. The paper reports:
Warner Brothers, which has brought world-wide fame to the former aerodrome complex with its Harry Potter franchise, can now begin a programme of redevelopment worth an estimated £100million – creating hundreds of jobs and providing a boost to the local economy.
The company, which will now purchase the site outright and use it as its European filming base, will build new film stages, production and administration facilities.
It will also open a Harry Potter themed visitor attraction to cater for up to 5,000 visitors a day.
The site, set to open in 2012, will "offer tours of old Harry Potter film sets when production on the franchise comes to a conclusion later in the year."
Many thanks to Jodi for mailing!
61 Comments
157 Points
Yay! We get something in the UK !! :D
98 Points
I think you mean Watford rather than Wadford ;) This is great news for the local area, giving it some much needed vibrancy and a very cool place for people to work.
1373 Points
“… old Harry Potter film sets… " so sad!
however, the idea is great! Warner Bros. will not only create jobs and build a new european film studios but also will do an amazing present fot all HP fans! :)
310 Points
Isn’t it nice that because of Harry Potter there are now new job openings for everybody? Harry Potter is a legacy that nobody would soon forget.
2039 Points
SQUUEEE yay this just what we need in the uk and the jobs too
613 Points
Wow, that makes me want to go to England more than before!! Good idea to make the studio alive. :)
2394 Points
Woo I’m all for this, It’s nothing but positives! I was always kind of peeved that the Wizarding World of HP went to Orlando. I know it had to but it didn’t stop me being pissed off. It’s so British and the thought of walking around Hogsmeade is sweltering heat hearing nothing but American accents was my idea of a nightmare.
But this is fantastic, the UK holds the actual sets, the authentic ones and this side of the pond forever gets to keep that.
Positive number 2 this is fantastic news for the British film industry because there was no denying there would be a gap left after DH where 800 people would be out of work and I’m over the moon that WB are the 1st Hollywood studio to kick up a European production base in the UK. That’s fantastic for the industry.
Not to mention it’ll be up and running for 2012 just in time for the Olympics and Leavesden is only about 40 mins outside London.
Win all round!
75561 Points
A good move for that community.
27957 Points
Exciting news and great to have something here, and of course they are the REAL thing. Squeeee!
311 Points
That’s wonderful news! It’ll be fantastic to tour through the sets… Thanks to WB for keeping the visual aspect of Harry Potter’s magic alive!
1166 Points
Just one more thing to add to the list of HP stuff I need to do!!
808 Points
Yay, finally something I can go and see. I love the idea of a theme park but it is just too far away for me. This will involve travel but at least a train ticket there would be cheaper than a flight to America.
397 Points
Yay i would so go there :D Excited much :D
4056 Points
I’m so happy that they aren’t destroying the sets. Lol, imagine in a 100 years the sets are still a growing tourist attraction…“Ladies & Gentlemen, please take your seats to watch the movie of how Harry Potter came to be in this world 100 years ago..” LOL! :D
Yay! We get something in the UK !! :D