Swindon & Wiltshire News
Amazon Prime Video acquires the historic Bray Film Studios
Amazon Prime Video has acquired Bray Film Studios – best known as the home of the Hammer House of Horror franchise.
The studios, near Windsor, will be the new production home for global Prime Video hits like Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and Citadel. Amazon has been filming at the facility since 2022, but has now bought the site outright.
The first Amazon MGM Studios production to be located at the studio post-acquisition will be the second season of the Russo Brothers’ spy series Citadel, starring Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, which is scheduled to begin filming in September 2024.
The studios offer 53,600 square feet and include five sound stages, 77,400 square feet of workshops, 39,400 square feet of office space, 182,900 square feet of backlot, and 156,000 square feet of parking space.
The purchase is in addition to Amazon’s significant presence at nearby Shepperton Studios, where it has a long-term contract for the exclusive use of nine new state-of-the-art sound stages, workshops, and office accommodation, totalling approximately 450,000 square feet.
“With Bray as our creative home in the UK, we are committed to deepening our relationships with the UK creative community, which is rich with world-class storytellers and creative talent of all kinds,” said Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios.
“The acquisition of a studio with such a storied heritage not only empowers us to produce more film and television in the UK, but also unveils a wealth of opportunities in the local community with respect to jobs and skills training at all levels of the production process.”
‘For 70 years Bray Studios has brought us some of cinema’s most iconic moments’
Image reproduced under Creative Commons licence
The site’s life as a film studio began in 1951, when Hammer Film Productions bought the 18th century Down Place, a location they had used in 1950 to film The Dark Light.
The premises were largely derelict, and Hammer used the building’s interior for filming before constructing a sound stage on the estate in 1952.
In the 1970s and 1980s special events for TV shows like Doctor Who and Space 1999 were created there. In the 90s the facility became a pre-tour rehearsal space for bands.
Frank Burke, chairman of Bray Film Studios Ltd, the previous owner of the site, said: “During our period of ownership, I, together with my family and team have witnessed the rebirth of this iconic facility and we are extremely proud of the part we have been able to play in bringing it to renewed prominence.
“We are now genuinely excited to be handing the studios over to Amazon, who we believe share our commitment to quality and excellence and are perfectly suited to preserving the character of the studio while enhancing the first-class creative production spaces for generations of filmmakers to come.”
Culture secretary Lisa Nandy said: “From Rocketman to The Rocky Horror Picture Show, for 70 years Bray Studios has brought us some of cinema’s most iconic moments. We are determined to support the huge potential for economic growth in our creative industries.
“We want to do all we can to help make sure career opportunities in these exciting sectors are available for people from all backgrounds right across the UK.
“This vote of confidence by Amazon MGM Studios will ensure that one of our leading film studios continues to play a crucial role in our first-class screen industries. It will deliver a major investment in skills and infrastructure to enhance our status as Europe’s top filmmaking destination.”
