City is star turn as Fantastic Beasts hits cinemas
THERE are just hours to go until Liverpool doubles as New York in what is one of the most hotly anticipated films of 2016.
Today (Friday November 18) the wizarding world of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them hits the big screen, with Liverpool taking a starring role in J K Rowling’s screenwriting debut.
The Warner Bros Studios movie is a new adventure set in 1926, just as Newt Scamander, played by Oscar winning Eddie Redmayne, completes a global excursion to find and document an extraordinary array of magical creatures.
Liverpool Film Office was instrumental in securing the city’s role as the only none-studio location. In the first of the five-film franchise two of the city’s iconic buildings, Cunard Building and St George’s Hall, play a leading role.
Director of the film David Yates, said: “Liverpool is a wonderful place to film – the locations, the people, the welcome we felt and support we had when making Fantastic Beasts in the City was second to none.”
Producer David Heyman said: “We were thrilled to film Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them in Liverpool, a city which has such fond memories for me.
“St George’s Hall and the Cunard Building gave us exactly what we wanted, and the people there, the city itself was so supportive, and the film office was incredible. It was a great experience.”
When quoted for an Oh My God Britain campaign, lead actor Eddie Redmayne, said: “My OMGB moment was probably shooting in Liverpool. That’s a city that I just love and I find endlessly inspiring for its history and for its architecture and we had the most wonderful time there.”
Also collaborating with Yates behind the scenes are: Oscar-winning director of photography Philippe Rousselot (A River Runs Through It, the Sherlock Holmes movies), three-time Oscar-winning production designer Stuart Craig (The English Patient, Dangerous Liaisons, Gandhi, the Harry Potter films), three-time Oscar-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood (Chicago, Memoirs of a Geisha, Alice in Wonderland), Oscar-winning visual effects supervisor Tim Burke (Gladiator, the Harry Potter films), Oscar-nominated visual effects supervisor Christian Manz (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1), and Yates’ long time editor Mark Day (the last four Harry Potter films).
Film Office manager Lynn Saunders said: “A huge amount of planning went into the nine day shoot in the city. There were more than 1,100 cast, crew and extras, and with 18 months preparation we ensured all aspects of the filming ran as smoothly as it possibly could.
Liverpool City Council cabinet member responsible for the Film Office, Cllr Wendy Simon, said: “We were one of many locations the production team looked at, so for us to come out on top is a testament to the expertise, experience and enthusiasm of our Film Office team, packaged with the stunning venues we have to offer.
“We are no stranger to big movies being filmed on the city streets, but without a doubt, this new adventure will create a real buzz and re-emphasise Liverpool’s reputation as one of the most filmed cities outside London.”
