With a number of major film and TV studios in the county, Hertfordshire is now a hotspot for movie-making.
As well as numerous productions being made at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, Elstree Film Studios and the new state-of-the-art Sky Studios Elstree in Borehamwood, filming often takes place around the county at stately homes including Hatfield House and Knebworth House, historic locations such as the city of St Albans, and in Herts' picturesque countryside.
In 2023, films as diverse as Vin Diesel blockbuster Fast X, superhero movie The Flash, the £1billion box office smash Barbie, Aquaman sequel Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom, musical fantasy Wonka, and Jason Statham shark movie sequel Meg 2: The Trench were released at cinemas — all with scenes shot at the Leavesden studios in Hertfordshire.
In recent years Netflix series Bridgerton has been filmed at various Herts locations, while the streaming site's royal drama The Crown was based at Elstree Studios for six seasons and shot scenes at the county's mansions, including Wrotham Park near Potters Bar and North Mymms Park.
Here are eight of the movies and high-end TV series partly filmed in Hertfordshire to see in 2024.
1. The Boys In The Boat
Produced and directed by Hollywood A-lister George Clooney, this sports drama is based on the New York Times bestselling non-fiction book written by Daniel James Brown.
The inspirational true story is about the 1936 University of Washington rowing team that competed for gold at the Summer Olympics in Berlin.
The film follows a group of underdogs at the height of the Great Depression as they are thrust into the spotlight and take on elite rivals from around the world.
Gravity and Ocean's Eleven star George Clooney was spotted in Hertfordshire at the County Council’s landmark County Hall headquarters in Hertford for filming of the movie in May 2022.
Already released in America, the movie is due in UK cinemas from January 12.
2. Masters of the Air
Hollywood big-hitters Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks have history of filming in Hertfordshire.
Scenes of World War Two epic Saving Private Ryan, directed by Spielberg and starring Hanks as US captain John Miller, were filmed on the former British Aerospace airfield in Hatfield.
The pair returned to the Hatfield site to film HBO TV mini-series Band of Brothers, with multiple village sets built on the former de Havilland aerodrome.
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Upcoming Apple TV+ World War II drama Masters of the Air — a nine-episode limited series with scenes filmed in Hemel Hempstead's old town — will make its global debut on Friday, January 26, 2024.
Reuniting the award-winning team of Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman, who also produced Band of Brothers and The Pacific, Masters of the Air is an action-packed drama that follows the true story of an American bomber group in WW2.
The highly anticipated series will premiere on Apple TV+ with two episodes, followed by one new episode every Friday through to March 15, 2024.
The series is executive produced by Spielberg, Hanks and Goetzman, and features a stellar cast led by Elvis Academy Award nominee Austin Butler, Callum Turner, who also stars in The Boys In The Boat, Academy Award nominee Barry Keoghan, Josiah Cross, Branden Cook, and Doctor Who's Ncuti Gatwa.
“Masters of the Air is a salute to the brave men of the 8th Air Force, who, through their courage and brotherhood, helped defeat Nazi Germany in World War II,” said Gary Goetzman.
“Tom and Steven have always wanted to visualize cinematically what our author Don Miller has called, this ‘singular event in the history of warfare’. We’re thrilled that Apple TV+ has given us the opportunity to combine the efforts of so many talented people, on-screen and behind the camera, to tell this important story.”
Filming of Masters of the Air was seen in the Old Town of Hemel Hempstead back in 2021. The quaint shopfronts were modelled to look from the 1940s and the streets were filled with period vehicles.
3. Mary & George
This lavish Sky Original series stars Oscar winner Julianne Moore, alongside Nicholas Galitzine and Tony Curran.
Mary & George is inspired by the outrageous true story of Mary Villiers, played by Moore, who moulded her beautiful and charismatic son, George (Galitzine), to seduce King James VI of Scotland and King James I of England (Tony Curran) and become his all-powerful lover.
Coming to Sky Atlantic and NOW this spring, location filming took place at Hatfield House, Rothamsted Manor in Harpenden, and the country roads and forest at the Ashridge Estate near Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire.
Representing the epitome of the Jacobean era, Hatfield House was used for scenes of cavorting, including a masque play, ballroom dancing and the King’s banquet.
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4. Deadpool 3
Set for a summer release, Deadpool 3 sees Wrexham FC co-owner Ryan Reynolds back as the foul-mouthed superhero.
And this time he’s bringing Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine with him for the ride.
Scenes of the movie were filmed at Pitstone Quarry, which is located about three miles north-east of Tring on the Buckinghamshire/Hertfordshire border.
According to the quarry's website: "The northern part of the quarry is in Buckinghamshire and the southern section is in Hertfordshire (Dacorum Borough). The whole quarry is in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty."
The National Trust’s Ashridge Estate also borders the quarry, to the east.
5. House of the Dragon
The highly anticipated second season of House of the Dragon will debut exclusively in the UK this summer on Sky Atlantic and streaming service NOW.
Like the first series of the Game of Thrones prequel, scenes of House of the Dragon have been shot at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, using the sound stages and huge sets built on the backlot.
Following pre-production work at Leavesden, filming began last April with the cast for season 2 including the returning Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Emma D’Arcy, Eve Best and Steve Toussaint.
New cast members include Clinton Liberty as Addam of Hull, Jamie Kenna as Ser Alfred Broome, Kieran Bew as Hugh, Tom Bennett as Ulf, Tom Taylor as Lord Cregan Stark, and Vincent Regan as Ser Rickard Thorne.
Other new season two cast members include Abubakar Salim as Alyn of Hull, Gayle Rankin as Alys Rivers, Freddie Fox as Ser Gwayne Hightower, and Simon Russell Beale as Ser Simon Strong.
6. Beetlejuice 2
Much-loved 1988 movie Beetlejuice has finally got a follow-up, more than 35 years after the original — and scenes were filmed on location in Hertfordshire.
The fantasy comedy horror movie is once again directed by Tim Burton and Michael Keaton also returns in the title role, having last year returned as Batman in The Flash, which was partly filmed at Knebworth Park.
The cast also includes Jenna Ortega and Monica Bellucci, and fans in Hertfordshire caught a glimpse of filming when Winona Ryder, who plays Lydia Deetz, was spotted shooting scenes at the former Princess Helena College near Hitchin.
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7. Wicked: Part One
The hit Broadway and West End musical is coming to the big screen — with scenes shot in Hertfordshire.
Starring pop star Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, the lavish film adaptation has been shot on the new sound stages at Sky Studio Elstree in Borehamwood, as well as a huge outdoor set in the village of Ivinghoe, Buckinghamshire, complete with yellow brick road.
Set in the Land of Oz, Wicked tells the story of how a green-skinned woman framed by the Wizard of Oz becomes the Wicked Witch of the West.
Fans of the hit musical can't wait to hear Defying Gravity sung in the movie.
The Wicked supporting cast includes Bridgerton's Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible and Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard.
Directed by Jon M. Chu, the first of a two-part feature film adaptation of the Broadway musical is set for released on November 27, 2024.
Wicked: Part Two is scheduled for release in November, 2025.
8. Paddington in Peru
Paddington is back later this year for a third movie, which will see the famous bear return to darkest Peru.
Set for release in UK cinemas on November 8, 2024, scenes of Paddington 3 have been shot at the new Sky Studios Elstree complex.
Parts of the first Paddington movie were filmed on location at Hatfield House, while Paddington 2's fairground scene was shot in the grounds of Knebworth House.
This time Paddington and the Brown family visit Aunt Lucy in Peru.
Directed by Dougal Wilson, Paddington In Peru has completed filming on location in London, Peru and Colombia. Paddington 3 stars Hugh Bonneville, Antonio Banderas, Olivia Colman, Julie Walters, Madeleine Harris, Samuel Joslin and Jim Broadbent. Emily Mortimer replaces Sally Hawkins as Mary Brown.
Ben Whishaw and Imelda Staunton also return as the respective voices of Paddington and Aunt Lucy.
Joining the cast is newcomer Carla Tous in the role of Gina Cabot. The previously announced Rachel Zegler was unable to carry out the role due to last year's SAG-AFTRA strike.
Director Dougal Wilson said: “It’s been a joy and an honour to shoot Paddington in Peru with such a wonderful and talented cast and crew.
I feel incredibly lucky to have been blessed with such a lovely group of people, many of whom have returned to the world of this beloved bear. We are also delighted to have welcomed Emily, Olivia, Antonio and Carla to the Paddington family.”
The highly anticipated third Paddington film brings Paddington’s story to Peru as he returns to visit his beloved Aunt Lucy, who now resides at the Home for Retired Bears.
With the Brown family in tow, a thrilling adventure ensues when a mystery plunges them into an unexpected journey through the Amazon rainforest and to the mountain peaks of Peru.
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