The wartime movie 1917 was one of the major blockbusters made at Shepperton Studios in Surrey, England. Photo: Universal Pictures
The wartime movie 1917 was one of the major blockbusters made at Shepperton Studios in Surrey, England. Photo: Universal Pictures
The wartime movie 1917 was one of the major blockbusters made at Shepperton Studios in Surrey, England. Photo: Universal Pictures
The wartime movie 1917 was one of the major blockbusters made at Shepperton Studios in Surrey, England. Photo: Universal Pictures

Shepperton to be world's second biggest film studio with £500 million expansion


Neil Murphy
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Shepperton Studios in the UK is set for a £500 million expansion that will make it the second largest film and TV studio in the world.

The development, located in Surrey on the outskirts of London, will include a further 17 stages and deliver about 1.2 million square feet.

Politicians have hailed the news, saying that it will “cement” the UK's status as a global filmmaker.

Streaming giants Netflix and Amazon Prime Video have both committed to leasing Shepperton's studio space for their future creative projects.

Earlier this year Prime Video said it had signed a multimillion-pound long-term contract for the exclusive use of nine sound stages, workshops and office accommodation facilities at Shepperton Studios.

Netflix had already agreed to a deal for the exclusive use of studio space at the site earlier this year.

Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan said the deal “cements our status as one of the best places globally to make film and television.”

On Tuesday she visited Shepperton Studios, which is part of the Pinewood Group, and met senior leaders of Netflix and Amazon’s Prime Video, as well as members of the local council.

Shepperton film studios is getting a major £500 million expansion.
Shepperton film studios is getting a major £500 million expansion.

They toured the new £500 million expansion project, which is due to open from June 2023.

Ms Donelan said Shepperton Studios was already a “world class production facility” which has created blockbuster classics such as 1917, Gladiator, Billy Elliot and Love Actually.

“The studio’s major expansion will enable our home-grown dream factory to become the second largest studio in the world and create bigger and better global hits, which will cement our status as one of the best places globally to make film and television.”

She added: “Alongside the government’s funding for the BFI Film Academy and National Film and Television School, we look forward to working with the industry to make sure British filmmakers have the skills they need to make the most of the new job opportunities our great entertainment industry has to offer.”

Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan, second right, with, from left to right, Chris Bird from Prime Video, Paul Golding from Pinewood Group and Anna Mallett from Netflix, as she toured Shepperton Studios.
Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan, second right, with, from left to right, Chris Bird from Prime Video, Paul Golding from Pinewood Group and Anna Mallett from Netflix, as she toured Shepperton Studios.

Paul Golding, chairman of Pinewood Group, said the expansion was already progressing at great pace.

He said that his company was adding more than one million square feet to support the UK film industry and to meet the needs of Netflix and Amazon.

Ms Donelan’s visit continued to Pinewood Studios where she opened the Buckinghamshire film office and met students studying creative media skills and toured the production spaces and facilities.

Films made at Shepperton Studios — in pictures

  • Famous films shot at Shepperton Studios: 'Cruella', the Disney prequel to '101 Dalmatians' starring Emma Stone. Photo: Disney
    Famous films shot at Shepperton Studios: 'Cruella', the Disney prequel to '101 Dalmatians' starring Emma Stone. Photo: Disney
  • Famous films shot at Shepperton Studios: World War One drama '1917', directed by Sam Mendes. AP Photo
    Famous films shot at Shepperton Studios: World War One drama '1917', directed by Sam Mendes. AP Photo
  • Famous films shot at Shepperton Studios: 'Mary Poppins Returns' starring Emily Blunt. AP Photo
    Famous films shot at Shepperton Studios: 'Mary Poppins Returns' starring Emily Blunt. AP Photo
  • Famous films shot at Shepperton Studios: 2003 romantic comedy 'Love Actually', which was written and directed by Richard Curtis. Shutterstock
    Famous films shot at Shepperton Studios: 2003 romantic comedy 'Love Actually', which was written and directed by Richard Curtis. Shutterstock
  • Famous films shot at Shepperton Studios: The live-action remake of Disney classic 'Beauty And The Beast'. Photo: Disney
    Famous films shot at Shepperton Studios: The live-action remake of Disney classic 'Beauty And The Beast'. Photo: Disney
  • Famous films shot at Shepperton Studios: 1990s favourite 'Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves', starring Kevin Costner. Getty Images
    Famous films shot at Shepperton Studios: 1990s favourite 'Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves', starring Kevin Costner. Getty Images
  • Famous films shot at Shepperton Studios: The original 1977 'Star Wars' movie. Photo: Lucasfilm Ltd
    Famous films shot at Shepperton Studios: The original 1977 'Star Wars' movie. Photo: Lucasfilm Ltd
  • Famous films shot at Shepperton Studios: The 1968 film 'Oliver!'. Alamy
    Famous films shot at Shepperton Studios: The 1968 film 'Oliver!'. Alamy
  • Famous films shot at Shepperton Studios: 'Batman Begins', which starred Christian Bale as the superhero for the first time. Alamy
    Famous films shot at Shepperton Studios: 'Batman Begins', which starred Christian Bale as the superhero for the first time. Alamy
  • Famous films shot at Shepperton Studios: The 1979 Ridley Scott sci-fi classic 'Alien'. Photo: 20th Century Fox
    Famous films shot at Shepperton Studios: The 1979 Ridley Scott sci-fi classic 'Alien'. Photo: 20th Century Fox
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Updated: November 30, 2022, 4:12 PM