UK in focus image

Source: Universal / Warner Bros / 20th Century Studios / Amazon Prime / HBO /

Clockwise L-R: ‘The 355’, ‘The Batman’, ‘The King’s Man’, ‘The Rig’, ‘Landscapers’, ‘The Matrix Resurrections’

The UK’s film and high-end TV production landscape is busier than ever, with myriad big- and small-screen projects choosing to utilise the world-leading locations, talent and infrastructure across the country’s nations and regions. Here are 15 UK-made productions to look forward to over the coming months, from blockbuster science fiction to literary adaptations and more. 

FEATURE FILMS

The 355

UK locations include: London, southeast England
Oscar-nominated British producer Simon Kinberg (The Martian) follows up his 2019 directorial debut X-Men: Dark Phoenix with this actioner starring Jessica Chastain as a CIA agent who must track down a top-secret weapon. Lupita Nyong’o, Diane Kruger and Penelope Cruz also star in the Freckle Films production, released by Universal.
Release date: January 7, 2022 (UK/US)

The Batman 

UK locations include: Warner Bros Studios Leavesden and London, southeast England; Liverpool, northwest England; Glasgow, Scotland
A superhero who surely needs no introduction, this latest iteration of the beloved franchise (6th & Idaho Productions/DC Entertainment/Warner Bros) stars Robert Pattinson as the caped crusader who, in his second year of fighting crime, faces a serial killer known as The Riddler (Paul Dano). Directed by Matt Reeves (Let Me In), the film is released by Warner Bros. Release date: March 4, 2022 (UK/US)

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore

UK locations include: Warner Bros Studios Leavesden, southeast England
Star Eddie Redmayne and director David Yates return for this third film in the Fantastic Beasts series (produced and distributed by Warner Bros) which is set in the 1930s and explores the Wizarding World’s involvement in World War II. Alongside Redmayne as Newt Scamander are Jude Law as Albus Dumbledore and Mads Mikkelsen as Gellert Grindelwald. Release date: April 15, 2022 (UK/US)

The King’s Man

UK locations include: southeast England
This third instalment in Matthew Vaughn’s Kingsmen series (Marv Films/20th Century Studios) is a prequel to both 2014’s Kingsman: The Secret Service and 2017’s Kingsman: The Golden Circle. It follows the formation of the Kingsman agency in the early 20th century in order to save the human race from a villainous cabal. Release date: December 22, 2021 (UK/US)

The Matrix Resurrections 

UK VFX & Post includes: Framestore, One Of Us
Over two decades since The Matrix pushed the boundaries of CGI possibility, the franchise returns with Keanu Reeves reprising his role as Neo, who no longer remembers the truth about life inside the matrix. Lana Wachowski directs the Village Roadshow Pictures production, which is released by Warner Bros. Release date: December 22, 2021 (UK/US) 

Morbius

UK locations include: Pinewood Studios, southeast England; Manchester, northwest England
Joining Venom as part of a new shared Marvel universe of films inspired by Spider-Man characters, Morbius(5150 Action/Columbia Pictures/Marvel) stars Jared Leto as scientist Michael Morbius, whose attempts to cure himself of a rare blood disease afflict him with vampirism. Matt Smith and Jared Harris also star in the Sony Picture release. Release date: January 21, 2022 (UK); January 28, 2022 (US)

The Northman

UK locations include: Belfast Harbour Studios and various locations, Northern Ireland
The third feature from director Robert Eggers following The Witch and The Lighthouse, viking drama The Northman (New Regency Production/Focus Feature) boasts an all-star cast including Anya Taylor-Joy, Alexander Skarsgard, Ethan Hawke, Nicole Kidman and Willem Dafoe. Universal will release in Spring 2022. Release date: April 8, 2022 (UK/US)

High-end TV

Dafne Keen and Amir Wilson

Source: HBO / BBC

Dafne Keen and Amir Wilson behind-the-scenes on His Dark Materials

Citadel

UK locations include: Bray Film Studios and various locations, southeast England

Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra star in this sprawling new Amazon series, created by Avengers: Endgame directors Anthony and Joe Russo and produced by Amazon Studios with AGBO, Midnight Radio and PKM Productions. Described as an “action-packed spy series” it will feature a central UK-set series with several additional local language series set in Italy, India, Spain and Mexico. Premieres: February 2022 TBC (UK/US)

His Dark Materials (season three)

UK locations include: Wolf Studios and various locations, Wales
This adaptation of Philip Pullman’s trilogy of fantasy novels has proved hugely popular with viewers, who will be pleased to see the majority of the main cast return for this third and final season, including Dafne Keen as Lyra, Ruth Wilson as Mrs Coulter and James McAvoy as Lord Asriel. The series is produced by Bad Wolf, New Line and Scholastic for the BBC and HBO. Premieres: 2022 TBC (UK/US) 

Lady Chatterleys Lover

UK locations include: North of England
The first project to come under the new first look partnership between Sony’s 3000 Pictures and Netflix, this Blue Print Picture adaption of DH Lawrence’s controversial novel stars The Crown’s Emma Corrin as the eponymous Lady Chatterley, who embarks on an affair with a worker on her estate. Jack O’Connell (Unbroken) co-stars. Premieres: 2022 TBC (UK/US)

Landscapers

UK locations: Nottinghamshire, England
This HBO, Sister and South Of The River production, which will air on HBO in the US and Sky Atlantic in the UK, tells the true story of the 1988 murders of Nottingham residents William and Patricia Wycherley by their daughter Susan and her husband Christopher, who buried the elderly couple in their back garden. The series stars David Thewlis and Oscar-winner Olivia Colman, and is directed by Will Sharpe (The Electrical Life Of Louis Wain). Premieres: Late 2021/early 2022 TBC (UK/US)

The Rig

UK locations include: FirstStage Studios and various locations, Scotland 
Iain Glen (Game of Thrones) and Emily Hampshire (Schitt’s Creek) star in this drama set on the Kinloch Bravo oil rig, off the Scottish coast, whose crew is cut off from the mainland by a mysterious fog. Produced by Wild Mercury productions, the show will premiere on Amazon Prime in 2022. Premieres: 2022 TBC (UK/US)

The Sandman

UK locations include: Warner Bros Studios Leavesden and various locations, southeast England
Netflix’s adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s celebrated comic book series is produced by the streamer along with DC Entertainment and Warner Bros, and follows the fantastic exploits of the seven ‘Endless’ protagonists; Dream, Destiny, Death, Desire Despair Delirium and Destruction. The starry cast includes Tom Sturridge, Charles Dance and Gwendoline Christie. Premieres: Late 2021/early 2022 TBC (UK/USA)

Suspicion

UK locations include: London and southeast England
Keshet Productions are behind this drama for AppleTV+, which is based on the Israeli series False Flag (which Keshet also produced). Oscar-nominated actress Uma Thurman (Pulp Fiction) heads the cast as a prominent American businesswoman whose son is kidnapped from a New York hotel. Premieres: 2022 TBC (UK/US)

Willow

UK locations include: Dragon Studios and various locations, Wales
Based on the 1988 feature of the same name, Disney/Lucasfilm’s lavish new series sees Warwick Davis reprise his role as the dwarf sorcerer. Stephen Woolfenden (The Spanish PrincessOutlander) will direct the initial episodes, with the story taking place many years after the events of the feature. The series will debut on Disney+ in 2022. Premieres: 2022 TBC (UK/US)