From Tom Hardy’s “Havoc” to the “Crown”, Netflix has significantly ramped up its production in Wales
Tom Hardy starrer ‘HAVOC’ is one of the biggest films shot fully in Wales(Image: Courtesy of Netflix © 2024)
Netflix’s investment in Welsh-made TV and film is growing in significance to the economy, with productions filmed in Wales generating over £200 million since 2020. A major contribution to the Welsh production scene is the new film, Havoc, featuring Tom Hardy is set to be released on April 25 and is the largest feature film ever shot entirely in Wales and directed by Welsh director Gareth Evans.
Wales is currently becoming a key production hub for Netflix series, with big names such as The Witcher, Sex Education, and The Crown being filmed in Welsh locations.
The Welsh locations picked by Netflix’s hit show Sex Education include the Wye Valley, Cwmcarn Forest, and the Wye River, which provide the perfect background for the show’s tone and look.
The Witcher, starring Henry Cavill is another one of the big series shot in Wales(Image: Netflix)
Other locations include Penarth’s Paget Room, used for school hall scenes, and Cwmcarn, located in the heart of the South Wales valleys, which appears in Season 4 as the road to Cavendish College. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter
The hit Netflix series ‘Sex Education’ has multiple scenes that were shot in Wales(Image: Netflix)
Additionally, in the third season of The Crown, Caernarfon Castle is used to shoot the investiture ceremony of the Prince of Wales, which, interestingly, is the real-life location used to crown Prince Charles as the Prince of Wales in 1969.
Netflix fittingly replicated the ceremony in the same location. Also, locations used for the hit show The Witcher are now confirmed to be Llanberis, Gwynedd, which was used to film the series’ fourth season in 2024.
Additionally, Netflix and the National Youth Theatre’s ‘IGNITE Your Creativity’ programme have assisted over 350 young people in workshops hosted in Newport, Cardiff, Port Talbot, Torfaen, and Bridgend, intending to increase their confidence and networks in preparation for a career in the creative industries.
Netflix’s Crown used the Caernarfon Castle to film the scenes of Prince Charles’ investiture(Image: Daily Post Wales)
The economic impact is said to extend beyond the film industry, benefiting various sectors. For every £1 spent by Netflix on productions in Wales, 58p is allocated to the TV and film sectors, 30p to other areas like property and construction, 7p to rental and leasing, and 5p to the creative arts.
The Welsh Government, through Creative Wales, has supported these initiatives, helping to establish Wales as a prominent filming destination. This collaboration not only boosts the local economy but also showcases Welsh talent and landscapes on a global scale.