31/01/2014 - Country hopping thriller largely shot in the UK with British locations doubling up for Russia and US

The fact that a large amount of the more than £1 billion inward investment to the UK film industry comes from Hollywood is well known, mainly due to the immense benefits offered by the country’s Film Tax Relief. What is not that well known is the extent to which the UK doubles up as a double for international locations. Paramount’s Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, currently on release, is a case in point, with the film almost entirely being shot in the UK. Liverpool stood in for key Moscow locations. The film’s British director Kenneth Branagh said, “Moscow is an amazing city, but it’s a challenge to work in because it’s so big and so spread out. Liverpool was able to provide us with some old imperial Moscow”. In addition, the city’s Birkenhead Tunnel was used for a breakneck Manhattan-set car-chase.

Producer David Barron said, “Filming in Liverpool was a brilliant experience. Everybody made us welcome, we were able to do things with ease and a speed that is not generally possible in a big city.” Beyond Liverpool, the film also shot on location in Nottinghamshire, Hertfordshire and London. The film’s British Production Designer Andrew Laws said, “Using a building in London and post-production visual effects we were able create something with a grandeur and glory very much like what is currently being built in Moscow’s new financial district.”

Besides American stars Chris Pine and Kevin Costner, Jack Ryan’s cast includes British A-listers Keira Knightley and director Branagh, who also co-stars.