Amazon MGM Studios is acquiring the Bray Film Studios in Water Oakley, Berkshire, 26 miles from central London, the studio complex where its The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power shot its second season. Other productions that have been shot at Bray include the likes of Rocketman, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, Angel Has Fallen, The King’s Man, Amazon series Citadel, BBC show Dracula, and BBC series Bodyguard.
“The acquisition includes approximately 53,600 square feet of soundstage space across five stages, 77,400 square feet of workshops, 39,400 square feet of office, 182,900 square feet of backlot, and 156,000 square feet of parking space,” Amazon said on Monday. “Bray has previously supported Amazon MGM Studios productions with sound stages, offices, and production facilities, starting in January 2022, when it became the production home for the second season of the global hit Prime Video series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.”
Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, also touted the deal. “With Bray as our creative home in the U.K., we are committed to deepening our relationships with the U.K. creative community, which is rich with world-class storytellers and creative talent of all kinds,” he said. “The acquisition of a studio with such a storied heritage not only empowers us to produce more film and television in the U.K., but also unveils a wealth of opportunities in the local community with respect to jobs and skills training at all levels of the production process.”
Amazon MGM Studios plans to produce both new and continuing TV series and feature films at the studio site.
The first Amazon MGM Studios production to be located at Bray following the acquisition will be the second season of the Russo Brothers’ spy series Citadel, starring Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, which is scheduled to begin filming in September.
Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.
“Bray Film Studios is located on the bank of the River Thames,” the studio facility’s website says. “With an 18th-century former English country house at its heart, the studios have provided creative space for some of the greatest talent in film and music. Ridley Scott built and shot the miniatures for his Academy Award-winning sci-fi thriller Alien at the studios in 1978, and a few years before the cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show was brought to life here.”
Bray is also known as the home of British horror specialist Hammer Films, which moved on-site in 1951 and became known for projects with the likes of Christopher Lee and such movies as The Mummy, The Curse of Frankenstein, and Terence Fisher’s Dracula. “Controversial with critics at the time, Hammer delighted audiences with a fresh aesthetic of gruesomeness, created by the pioneering special effects that Hammer honed during its tenure at Bray Film Studios,” the studio complex’s website highlights. “The Hammer aesthetic was the direct result of the unique site at Bray, which was chosen specifically for its Georgian property, Down Place. Crew and technicians lived on-site during productions, creating the first ‘house-style’ studio and fostering a warm and creative on-set community that many award-winning directors, producers, and actors came to love.”
Frank Burke, chairman of Bray Film Studios, the previous owner of the site, said about the sale to Amazon. “For 70-plus years, Bray Studios has held an important place in the history of British filmmaking. During our period of ownership, I, together with my family and team have witnessed the rebirth of this iconic facility.”
The Amazon U.K. studio deal also got the blessing from the new Labour government in the country. “From Rocketman to The Rocky Horror Picture Show, for 70 years Bray Studios has brought us some of cinema’s most iconic moments. We are determined to support the huge potential for economic growth in our creative industries,” said U.K. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy. “This vote of confidence by Amazon MGM Studios will ensure that one of our leading film studios continues to play a crucial role in our first-class screen industries. It will deliver a major investment in skills and infrastructure to enhance our status as Europe’s top filmmaking destination.”
