Venom movie studio to set up home in Reading
A US-based studio company that has had Hollywood blockbusters Venom and Jumanji: The Next Level film at its sets has signed a deal to develop a new £150m movie studio in the UK.
The University of Reading is in discussions to lease space at its Thames Valley Science Park to Atlanta-based Blackhall Studios for the major new studio complex.
The proposals for studios and associated creative and digital hub would take up most of the remaining land allocated in the original outline planning for the Thames Valley Science Park in Shinfield, just south of the M4.
A US-based studio company that has had Hollywood blockbusters Venom and Jumanji: The Next Level film at its sets has signed a deal to develop a new £150m movie studio in the UK.
The University of Reading is in discussions to lease space at its Thames Valley Science Park to Atlanta-based Blackhall Studios for the major new studio complex.
The proposals for studios and associated creative and digital hub would take up most of the remaining land allocated in the original outline planning for the Thames Valley Science Park in Shinfield, just south of the M4.
The science park is already home to a range of high-tech buildings and tenants, with the British Museum Archaeological Research Collection currently under construction. These would not be affected by the new proposals.
Once built, the site would become one of the largest film studios in the UK, boosting the UK’s film capacity substantially. Once operational, the studio is expected to be worth £500m to the UK economy per year.
Samantha Foley, the university’s chief financial officer, said: “These are exciting proposals that would focus the future of Thames Valley Science Park around key areas of expertise at the University of Reading including film and TV, heritage and the arts, and innovation and technology.
“We want the science park to reflect our institutional priorities of supporting excellence, environmental sustainability and building strong communities. We will work closely with our neighbours and the wider community to create long-term opportunities to benefit Shinfield and the whole region.”
Ryan Millsap, chairman and chief executive of Blackhall, said: “We are very excited about the prospect of investing in the UK creative industries as one of the most vibrant markets in the world. We hope that the site at Thames Valley Science Park will be the start of a series of investments in the UK which will see investment in jobs, training and the creative arts across a range of disciplines.”
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