Hollywood grinds to a halt: From Wicked’s demolished Bedfordshire site to a deserted Warner Bros studios: A look at the UK’s empty film sets amid the US’s actors’ strike
The SAG-AFTRA strike began on July 14 and is the latest of the ongoing labour disputes in Hollywood which has led to most movie sets grinding to a halt.
The action has brought the industry to a virtual standstill, forcing many film and TV productions to shut down, and marks the first time in more than 60 years that both actors and writers have gone on strike.
The WGA strike, which saw writers crossing the picket line, has been going on since early May.
Under the rules of a strike, all Sag-aftra members will not be able to film any movie or TV series – which means that almost every show and film that’s currently in the works will be delayed indefinitely until the problem is resolved.
British union Equity, the sister organisation to Sag-aftra, said in a statement that they are are ‘full square behind’ their US counterpart.
British actors including Brian Cox, Simon Pegg and Andy Serkis have also been among those supporting the US strike over here.
On July 21 dozens of actors and performers descended on London’s Leicester Square in solidarity with their colleagues in the US, who have walked out in protest at the pay and conditions in the industry.
In a knock on effect many famous filming sets in the UK have ground to a halt, been shut down temporarily or destroyed including the Wicked set in Bedfordshire and Warner Bros Leavesden studios in Hertfordshire.
Here MailOnline takes at the UK’s now empty film sets:
Wicked set demolished in Bedfordshire
The set of the new Wicked movie starring Ariana Grande has been demolished after Hollywood ground to a halt amid the actors’ strike.
Images show the set, located in the UK’s Ivinghoe Village, being taken apart amid the transatlantic SAG-AFTRA strike by actors.
The set in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, which features quirky, colourful, thatch-roofed homes, has lay abandoned for weeks after film stars united and downed tools last month.
And weeks after filming ceased on the new adaptation amid the strikes, the set has been pulled apart, after it was previously reported that there was only ’10 days left of filming’ for the production.
Images show several large containers filled with debris and building material, with tipper trucks seen driving away from set.
AFTER: The set of the new Wicked movie starring Ariana Grande has been demolished after Hollywood ground to a halt amid the actors’ strike
BEFORE: Scores of people could be seen on the brightly-coloured set of Wicked in April, before the strikes took place
Movie: Ariana Grande stars as Glinda the Good in the new film adaptation of the popular musical
Cranes and other vehicles also populated the set as the fictional homes were taken down, leaving a vast expanse of muddy land.
Surrounding the fictional village, there appeared to what be production tents set up, but those appear to be deserted amid the early shutdown following the strikes.
Meanwhile, the film’s famous yellow brick road, located in Munchkin Country, was seen covered in dirt and rumble as the set was shut down.
Munchkin Country is the fictional eastern region of the Land of Oz and home to the famous Yellow Brick Road.
The strike comes after the union representing Hollywood stars ordered members to down tools amid a row over how streaming services are pushing down pay and the increasing use of AI in production.
Pop star Grande who is set to portray heroine Glinda the Good in the upcoming film, signalled her support for the strike on Instagram last month by sharing news of the protest.
Other productions in the UK, including Deadpool 3, Beetlejuice 2, Speak No Evil and the next Avatar sequel are also set to be affected.
Taken down: Images show the set, located in the UK’s Ivinghoe Village, being taken apart amid the transatlantic SAG-AFTRA strike by actors
Quiet: The set in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, which features quirky, colourful, thatch-roofed homes, has lay abandoned for weeks after film stars united and downed tools last month
Done: Weeks after filming ceased on the new adaptation amid the strikes, the set has been pulled apart, after it was previously reported that there was only ’10 days left of filming’ for the production
A deserted Warner Bros Leavesden studios in Hertfordshire
The strike organised by a US actors’ union has led to the shutdown of several film and TV projects at Warner Bros Studios Leavesden.
Following a collapse of a deal with production companies, the Screen Actors’ Guild called for industrial action on Thursday, July 13.
This means that several productions which were in the process of being filmed at Warner Bros’ UK base in Leavesden have ground to a halt.
A couple of security guards a maintenance staff are the only people on site at the usually fully booked out studios where Tom Cruise is a favourite to use the Warner brothers studios.
Change: A strike organised by a US actors’ union has led to the shutdown of several film and TV projects at Warner Bros Studios Leavesden
Taking a stand: Following a collapse of a deal with production companies, the Screen Actors’ Guild called for industrial action on Thursday, July 13
Quiet: This means that several productions which were in the process of being filmed at Warner Bros’ UK base in Leavesden have ground to a halt
Long: This includes the Ryan Reynolds superhero movie Deadpool 3 and the long-awaited Tim Burton sequel Beetlejuice 2
Safe: However, HBO and Sky’s House of the Dragon may escape from the strike’s impact, due to featuring a predominantly British cast who are members of a different union
Set aside: Some of the equiptment is still being kept in the area but it has been set to the side as production halts
Structures: Some of the impressive sets are still up but maintenance staff are the only people on site at the usually fully booked out studios
This includes the Ryan Reynolds superhero movie Deadpool 3 and the long-awaited Tim Burton sequel Beetlejuice 2.
However, HBO and Sky’s House of the Dragon may escape from the strike’s impact, due to featuring a predominantly British cast who are members of a different union.
Pitstone Quarry film location in Buckinghamshire left empty
Other parts of Deadpool were being filmed at Pitstone Quarry in Buckinghamshire.
American A-list actors Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds were spotted on the Hertfordshire/Buckinghamshire border last month as filming for the much anticipated film began near Tring.
The high-profile actors were spotted filming in a quarry in mid July, after pictures surfaced on social media.
It was reported that filming and production had been taking place at Pitstone Quarry in Buckinghamshire, which is also on the border of Tring.
Completely barren: Other parts of Deadpool were being filmed at Pitstone Quarry in Buckinghamshire
Silent: But now the old location is completely bare as filming has halted as the strikes take place
Images show Ryan, 46, dressed in a Deadpool outfit while Hugh, 54, was spotted in his Wolverine costume.
But now the old location is completely bare as filming has halted as the strikes take place.
Images show the empty setting which is free from any set or filming equiptment.
Bray Studio film set where Lord Of The Rings was being filmed taken down
Bray Studio film set where Lord Of The Rings was being filmed and now taken down during the film industry strikes take place causing disruption for all those who work in the industry.
Production for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’s much-anticipated second series got underway in Berkshire in January, where a lavish castle set was constructed.
Photographs taken at the time showed an intricate castle courtyard had been built at Bray Studios in Windsor, where filming was underway.
The lavish set appeared to boast the intricate architecture associated with the elves in the Amazon series, raising the possibility that it could be part of the elven region Lindon.
The castle featured towers with Celtic knot-style patterns as well as covered passages and turrets running around the edge of the lavish courtyard.
The courtyard was built around a water feature, which was covered by a pillared archway design featuring delicate curved patterns.
The courtyard appeared to be set on a lower level in a castle, with parapet walkways and turrets running along one side, with a stone walkway also seen below.
There were also steps leading up to a vibrant orange and blue building front, adding a splash of colour to the grey stone scenery.
The Lord Of The Rings franchise is known for its impressive castle settings, including in the elven region Lindon, and Numenor – a kingdom of Men originally built by its first King, half-elf Elros.
The debut series of The Rings of Power was filmed in New Zealand across 18 months during the Covid-19 pandemic, but the second season has moved to Berkshire.
But Amazon then switched the show’s production to the UK, where the company is setting up a multi-show hub, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Production for the hotly-anticipated second series kicked off in October, with the eight-episode run slated for release in 2024, though an official date has not yet been confirmed.
Before: Bray Studio film set where Lord Of The Rings was being filmed and now taken down during the film industry strikes take place causing disruption for all those who work in the industry
Now: Production for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’s much-anticipated second series got underway in Berkshire in January, where a lavish castle set was constructed that has now vanished
Barren: Photographs taken at the time showed an intricate castle courtyard had been built at Bray Studios in Windsor, where filming was underway
Important: The lavish set appeared to boast the intricate architecture associated with the elves in the Amazon series, raising the possibility that it could be part of the elven region Lindon
Hyge: The castle featured towers with Celtic knot-style patterns as well as covered passages and turrets running around the edge of the lavish courtyard
Impressive: The courtyard was built around a water feature, which was covered by a pillared archway design featuring delicate curved patterns
Plot: The first series of The Lord Of The Rings prequel saw the true identity of Sauron finally revealed, The Stranger’s path unfold and three of the Rings Of Power forged
The first series of The Lord Of The Rings prequel saw the true identity of Sauron finally revealed, The Stranger’s path unfold and three of the Rings Of Power forged.
The Amazon series, which it claims has been viewed by over 100million people across the world, serves as a prequel set thousands of years before the time of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins and the events of the original Lord Of The Rings trilogy.
According to the streamer, 25million people viewed the premiere episode of the series, making it the biggest premiere to date for Amazon Prime Video.
And one of the biggest mysteries of the first series was the identity of Sauron, with his true identity finally revealed in the eighth and final episode, titled Alloyed.
Source: Read Full Article