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INDUSTRY UK

Warner Bros buys Potter studio

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The British film industry received a major boost with Warner Bros’ (WB) announcing the purchase of the 170-acre Leavesden Studios, where all the Harry Potter films have been made.

The American studio is planning a £100 million expansion of the Watford-based facility, which is expected to be complete by 2012. With this, WB will become the first Hollywood major to have a permanent British base.

When complete, the expanded studio will account for a third of the country’s film stage space and will be able to simultaneously host two major film productions and television and advertising commercials. The existing 1500 jobs will be retained and a further 300 created.

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The revamped studio will also have a visitor centre where props, sets and costumes from the Harry Potter series and other WB films will be housed.

WB Chairman and CEO Barry Meyer said, “For 86 years, Warner Bros has been intrinsically involved in film production in the UK. Our purchase of Warner Bros Studios, Leavesden, and our multimillion-pound investment in creating a state-of-the-art, permanent UK film production base further demonstrates our long-term commitment to, and confidence in, the skills and creativity of the UK film industry.”

Since 2000, WB has spent around £1.9 billion in the UK on film production.

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