While the global pandemic has created major challenges for film production, and the UK’s exhibition sector, the industry has been working hard to keep making and showing content in these turbulent times.
Despite the necessity for flexible release dates, there are numerous UK-made feature productions coming to cinemas and/or streaming platforms this year and beyond. Here is just a taster of what you can expect.
Black Widow (Marvel)
Shot at Pinewood studios and on location in South East England
This Marvel blockbuster starring Scarlett Johansson as former KGB operative Natasha Romanoff is helmed by Australian director Cate Shortland, and will kick off phase four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (which will also include the likes of Eternals and Thor: Love And Thunder). Black Widowis due for a theatrical release in May 2021.
Blithe Spirit (Align/Fred Films)
Shot on location in London and SE England
Dan Stevens, Isla Fisher and Judie Dench head the cast for this remake of the 1945 classic starring Rex Harrison and Margaret Rutherford. Edward Hall helms this adaptation of the Noel Coward play in which a writer summons the spirit of his dead wife, leading to a love triangle with his current spouse. The film is currently scheduled for a Christmas release.
Death On The Nile (20th Century Fox)
Shot at Longcross Studios
Director Kenneth Branagh follows up 2017’s Murder On The Orient Express with another Agatha Christie adaptation, in which he reprises the role of sleuth Hercule Poirot; this time investigating a murder on a Nile cruise. Sophie Okonedo, Armie Hammer and Gal Gadot also star in the film, which should sail into UK cinemas on December 18, 2020.
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Regency/Warp)
Shot at Peregrine Studios and on location in NW England
This adaptation of Tom McRae and Dan Gillespie Sell’s hit stage musical stars Max Harwood as Jamie, a Sheffield teenager who dreams of becoming a drag queen. McRae and Gillespie Sell have penned the screenplay for debut film director Jonathan Butterell, who also directed the stage show. The film is due for release in January 2021.
F9 (Universal)
Shot at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden and on location in Scotland and SE England
The ninth film in the Fast and The Furious series will race into cinemas in May 2021, with Vin Diesel back at the wheel as racer Dominic Turreto, who must face off against his own brother Jakob (John Cena) who has joined forces with arch enemy Cipher (Charlize Theron). The film is directed by Justin Lin, who has previously helmed The Fast & The Furious: Tokyo Drift along with Fast & Furious 5 and 6.
Here Before (Bankside/BBC Films)
Shot on location in Northern Ireland
This debut from Belfast-born writer/director Stacey Gregg — which came through Creative England’s iFeatures scheme — is gaining traction. Staring Andrea Riseborough as a grieving woman who becomes captivated by the young girl who moves in next door, it screened to international buyers and programmers as part of this year’s London Film Festival works in progress strand. Bankside Films have worldwide sales. Release date TBC.
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (Netflix)
Shot at Aborfield Studios and on location in East Anglia
Netflix has been ramping up its UK production activities with the likes of Enola Holmes, His House and now this festive adventure about an eccentric toymaker, his adventurous granddaughter and a magical invention starring Forest Whitaker, Anika Noni Rose and Hugh Bonneville. Written and directed by David E. Albert, the film will launch globally on Netflix on November 13, 2020.
The King’s Man (20th Century Fox)
Shot on location in SE England and London
The third film in the popular Kingsmen series is a period prequel set in the early 1900s, which sees the Kingsman spy agency forced to stand against a nefarious cabal. Matthew Vaughn returns to direct and his cast includes Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton and Djimon Hounsou. The King’s Man is due for theatrical release in February 2021.
Limbo (Caravan Cinema/BFI/Film4/Creative Scotland)
Shot on location in Scotland
The second feature from UK writer/director Ben Sharrock, following 2016’s Pikadero — which won the The Michael Powell Award for Best British Feature Film at that year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival — follows a Syrian musician stuck on a Scottish island as he awaits asylum seeker status. The film, which won the Youth Jury award at San Sebastian and will also play the LFF, was shot around Scotland’s scenic Western Isles. Release date TBC.
The Midnight Sky (Anonymous Content/Netflix)
Shot at Shepperton Studios
George Clooney directs and stars in this adaptation of Lilly Brooks-Dalton’s novel Good Morning, Midnight, which sees an isolated scientist in the Arctic (Clooney) attempt to stop a crew of astronauts — headed by Felicity Jones’ Sully — returning home to a global catastrophe. The film will make its global bow on Netflix in December 2020
Mogul Mowgli (Cinereach/RYOT/Pulse/BBC Films)
Shot on location in London
Having wowed festival audiences in Berlin, Melbourne and London, Mogul Mowgli is due for theatrical release on October 30, 2020. It features an astonishing performance from Riz Ahmed as a British-Pakistani rapper who is struck down by a debilitating autoimmune disease just ahead of his breakout US tour.
No Time To Die (MGM)
Shot at Pinewood Studios and on location in London, SE England and Scotland
After several release delays, the 25th film in the Bond franchise, which is helmed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, is now due in cinemas in April 2021. Daniel Craig steps back into the highly-polished shoes of the world’s most famous spy who, having left active service, is persuaded to help track down a mysterious villain armed with cutting-edge technology.
Operation Mincemeat (Cohen Media Group/See Saw Films)
Shot on location in London and SW England
The latest film from director John Madden (Miss Sloane) sees Colin Firth and Matthew Macfadyen star as a pair of British intelligence officers who use a corpse and false papers to outwit German troops in World War II. While the film has no confirmed release date, it is expected to play for audiences in 2021.
Pixie (Paramount/Bloom/Fragile Films)
Shot on location in Northern Ireland
Pixie sees Olivia Cooke taking the role of the titular protagonist who masterminds a heist to avenge her mother’s death. Also joining the cast for director Barnaby Thompson are Ben Hardy, Dylan Moran and Alec Baldwin. Release date TBC.
Rebecca (Netflix)
Shot on location in SE and SW England
Making its global debut on Netflix on October 21, 2020, the latest film from UK auteur Ben Wheatley (Kill List, Free Fire) is a sumptuous adaptation of Daphne De Maurier’s classic novel Rebecca. Previously adapted into a film by Alfred Hitchcock in 1940, this version stars Lily James as Mrs De Winter, who moves into the mansion of her new husband (Armie Hammer) only to find herself haunted by the shadow of his previous wife, Rebecca.
The Secret Garden (STX/StudioCanal)
Shot on location across the UK
Adapted by prolific UK screenwriter Jack Thorne from the classic novel by Francis Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden sees an orphaned girl (played by Dixie Egerickx) discover a beautiful hidden garden at her strict uncle’s estate. The film, which is directed by Marc Munden and also stars Colin Firth, will be available to watch on Sky from October 23, 2020.
Six Minutes To Midnight (Madison Films/Mad as Birds)
Shot on location in Wales
Co-written by Andy Goddard, Eddie Izzard and Celyn Jones, and directed by Goddard, this war drama is set in 1939 and follows a school teacher (played by Izzard) who joins the staff at an English private college only to discover that amongst his students are daughters of the Nazi High Command. Judi Dench, James D’Arcy and Jim Broadbent will also star in the film, which is expected to reach UK cinemas in March 2021.
Supernova (BBC Films/BFI/The Bureau)
Shot on location in NW England
This drama from UK writer/director Harry Macqueen (Hinterland) stars Stanley Tucci and Colin Firth as a long-term couple who are travelling throughout the Lake District following Tusker’s (Tucci) dementia diagnosis. After playing various festivals including London, the film will release in the UK on November 20, 2020, via StudioCanal.
Twist (Sky)
Shot on location in London.
This modern update of Charles Dickens classic tale follows a gang of young London hustlers plan the heist of the century. Newcomer Rafferty Law (son of actor Jude Law) takes the role of Oliver Twist, with Lena Headey as Sikes, Michael Caine as Fagin and Noel Clarke as Brownlow. It will make its debut on Sky Cinema in early 2021.
The Witches (HBO Max/Warner Bros)
Shot at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden and on location in SE England
Based on Roald Dahl’s classic 1983 children’s book (which was previously made into a film in 1990), The Witches tells of a small boy who has a run in with a group of real-life witches. Anne Hathaway takes the central role of The Grand High Witch, and the cast also includes Octavia Spencer and Stanley Tucci. It will debut in the US on HBO Max on October 22, 2020, and is expected to have an international theatrical release in 2021.
Wonder Woman 1984 (Warner Bros)
Shot at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden and on location in SE England
Director Patty Jenkins’ follow-up to her 2017 blockbuster is due in cinemas on December 25, 2020. Gal Gadot is back behind the shield as the titular hero, who finds herself facing two new enemies in the 1980s. Chris Pine also returns as Steve Trevor, and they are joined by Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen, Robin Wright and Kristen Wiig.
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