Big budget US comedy Show Dogs spent £4.7m filming in Wales – Hollywood producer is keen to return after ‘a great experience’

Riverstone Pictures, founded by Deepak Nayar and Nik Bower, has just completed filming in Wales where the majority of principal photography for Show Dogs was carried out at Pinewood Studio Wales, and locations in Wales doubling for the US.

Deepak, who produced with Philip von Alvensleben, said: 

“Principal photography is now complete and we’re really happy with how it went and have high expectations for Show Dogs. 

“We had a great time in Wales and I was delighted with the Welsh crews we worked with – they were thoroughly professional, very accommodating, welcoming and friendly. We couldn’t have asked for more. 

“It’s been a great experience and one I’d like to repeat as I’m very keen to carry out more projects in Wales – so watch this space.”

The production which was supported by business finance from the Welsh Government as well as the Media Investment Budget, advised by Pinewood Pictures, spent more than £4.7m on Welsh goods and services in the region.

 It also offered work and development opportunities for Welsh crew with the majority of principal photography filmed at a variety of Welsh locations.

Welsh Government Economy Secretary Ken Skates said: 

“We promote Wales as being an excellent location for feature films and TV productions so it’s particularly good to hear that a producer of Deepak Nayar’s standing not only had a great experience filming in Wales but is keen to return with more projects. That’s a great testimonial and we couldn’t ask for a better endorsement.”

Show dogs is a family comedy starring Will Arnett and Natasha Lyonne and features a cast of talking dogs using computer-generated visual effects to animate and manipulate the faces of the live dog characters.

The film centres on Max, a rugged, lone-wolf Rottweiler NYPD police dog partnered with Arnett. The two investigate the kidnapping of a baby panda by an underground network of illegal animal traders and a tip that they plan to sell the panda at the prestigious Canini Invitational Dog Show. The dog must undergo a makeover with the help of a seasoned trainer (Lyonne) – mud baths, ballet lessons, a Brazilian waxing to go undercover in order to thwart the plot.

Show Dogs is directed by Raja Gosnell, whose credits include Scooby-Doo, The Smurfs and Beverly Hills Chihuahua. Sales are being handled by Open Road International which has pre-sold it into various international territories with a US release scheduled for January 2018.