Dartmoor, War Horse

We here at HeyUGuys are very proud to be British. We love our movie heritage and are so pleased when big Hollywood studios decide that the UK is a place they want to shoot their movie. Some of the most iconic movies of all times have been shot here and looking at this list, the movies keep on coming! We’ve been contacted by VisitEngland who work tirelessly to promote the country and all that it stands for. They’ve compiled this fantastic list of movies that have either just come out, about to come out or that are currently filming in England.

In the list, we get to see Madonna’s W.E., Martin Scorcese’s Hugo, Steven Spielberg’s War Horse and Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows to name but a few and like I say, these have all been filmed right here! We wanted to share this list with you so that you could see if you could spot locations that you’ve been to or may want to visit after being inspired by what you read here. Enjoy and make sure you head to the VisitEngland website for more info.

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From the coarse beauty of Yorkshire’s moorland to the opulent exteriors of the National Trust’s most lavish Stately Homes, England is one big, beautiful movie set. Don’t just take our word for it – moviemakers have filmed some true classics here and last weekend has seen the release of another: Andrea Arnold’s adaptation of Emily Brontë’s classic novel Wuthering Heights. Here, VisitEngland showcases some of the locations featured in this film season’s most anticipated releases.

Yorkshire Moors, Wuthering Heights

Wuthering Heights

Brontë depicted the barren Yorkshire moors as a representation of central character Heathcliff’s innately wild nature and this new adaptation brings the rousingly romantic nineteenth-century novel to life. Kaya Scodelario has received much critical acclaim for her role as Cathy but the film’s true star is North Yorkshire’s stunning moorland. Sumptuous locations, including Cotescue Park, a country house built in 1666, and Swaledale highlight the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Explore these valleys and discover the true romance of these beautiful hills. If you scratch deeper than the surface you will find a truly wonderful place that lies at the beating heart of this ultimate love story.

Release date: 11 November 2011

My Week with Marilyn     

Staring Michelle Williams as everyone’s favourite blond bombshell, My Week with Marilyn focuses on the week Monroe spent in England whilst making the 1957 film The Prince and the Showgirl. Introduced to British life, Monroe escapes the pressures of Hollywood and then husband, Arthur Miller. Filming took place on locations in and around London, including a house near Windsor, which Monroe and Miller lived in during their stay in England. Curtis used the same studio featured in The Prince and the Showgirl in 1956 and Williams was reportedly given the dressing room Monroe had used at the time of the shoot.

Release date: 18 November 2011

Hughenden Manor, W.E

W.E.      

Directed by Madonna, W.E. brings together the Queen of Pop and King Edward VIII in an unconventional tale of contemporary love between a married woman and a Russian security guard. Locations include Hughenden Manor and West Wycombe Park in Buckinghamshire. The Manor, owned by the National Trust, was a country hideaway and home to the colourful private life of Benjamin Disraeli, the most unlikely Victorian Prime Minister. Today, you can follow in his footsteps: take a stroll through the elegant gardens and imagine feasting with Queen Victoria in the atmospheric dining hall.

Release date: 9 December 2011

The Iron Lady   

Here, Academy Award Winner Meryl Steep takes on a role of a lifetime, portraying the iconic former British Prime Minster, Margaret Thatcher. In preparation for the role, Steep sat through a session at the House of Commons to perfect the pursed lips and a steely glare needed to portray this extraordinary and complex woman.  The film was shot at Pinewood Studios, which recently celebrated its 75th birthday, and is credited with creating some of British cinema’s most famous scenes.

Release date: 6 January 2012            

Royal Naval College, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows   

British director Guy Ritchie invites his audience to follow Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr) and his sidekick Dr. Watson (Jude Law) across London as they outwit and bring down their fiercest and most cunning adversary, Professor Moriarty. Filmed at many iconic English destinations, from the historic Old Royal Naval College to Bourne Wood’s ancient woodland, Sherlock Homes promises to be the festive season’s biggest blockbuster.

Release date: 16 December 2011  

 

Dartmoor, War Horse

War Horse          

Set in Devon at the outbreak of World War I, War Horse describes unbreakable bond between a young man and his faithful horse. Directed by Steven Spielberg, filming was undertaken across England’s vast counties, including Bourne Woods, Surrey, Castle Combe and Dartmoor, Devon. Spielberg himself praised the beauty of the Dartmoor countryside, commenting on the unparalleled beauty of its landscapes and skies.

Release date: 13 January 2012      

 Great Expectations

To celebrate the 200th birthday of Charles Dickens, this lavish adaptation of Great Expectations stars some of the country’s most beloved actors (Ralph Fiennes, Robbie Coltrane, David Walliams, Jason Flemyng and Helena Bonham Carter) and will make great use of several high-profile locations. Fans of the legendary narrative will once again welcome the opportunity to get lost in the enchanted serenity of period film.

Release date: 2012 (TBC)

Layer Marney Tower, The Woman in Black

The Woman in Black      

This supernatural thriller, based on Susan Hill’s novel and hugely successful West End production of the same name, tells the story of a young lawyer’s encounter with the ghost of a scorned woman set on vengeance. Layer Marney Tower, near Colchester, provides the dramatic setting to this haunting affair.  Built in the reign of Henry VIII, the Tudor palace stands tall within the Essex landscape, commanding views over the River Blackwater and beyond.

Release date: 10 February 2012