Raleigh confirms involvement in French studio plan

Raleigh Studios has confirmed French media reports it is involved in plans to build new facilities in an abandoned military base on the outskirts of the southern French city of Toulouse.

“We can’t comment too much yet on the activity in France only to say that Raleigh Studios has been engaged to do a feasibility study to look at the potential of opening a studio in Toulouse… I hope to have more after that process is complete. We are quite a few months out on that at this moment,” a spokesperson for the company told Screen.

According to a report in the southern French newspaper La Dépêche du Midi, Raleigh’s feasibility study envisages several studios, post-production facilities, outdoor sets as well as hotels, bars and a shopping centre aimed at the public.

There were no details on how the scheme would be financed.

The project is the brainchild of Toulouse-based architect Bruno Granja [pictured]. He told La Dépêche: “Once we get the green light from the authorities, the project will go ahead.”

Raleigh Studios’ chief Michael Moore was quoted as saying: “Our aim is to create the best professional facilities possible… suitable for all type of productions… from telefilms, to French productions to co-productions.”

Raleigh made its first foray into Europe in 2010 with the launch of studios outside the Hungarian capital of Budapest. That facility has since welcomed productions such as Angelina Jolie’s In The Land of Blood and Honey.