The new production facility will be based at Trident Park, Ocean Way, close to Cardiff City Centre and has been acquired by the Welsh Government. It will be leased on commercial terms and provide studio facilities for Bad Wolf’s production slate as well as being able to accommodate other major TV productions.
Bad Wolf will film all of their forthcoming productions in the studio, including the series A Discovery of Witches and His Dark Materials and with many other productions in development it marks a significant investment in Wales as an international television production hub.
It will be the only studio in Wales able to offer stage space with a maximum eave height of 17.5 metres (57ft) making it an attractive proposition for high end television productions and big budget feature films from around the world. It is also an essential requirement to accommodate some of Bad Wolf’s productions.
On a visit to the site today with Jane Tranter, Chief Executive Officer and Julie Gardner, Managing Director of Bad Wolf, Economy Secretary Ken Skates described it as a strategically important acquisition that would meet the growing high demand for studio space in Wales which is competing against increasing supply in other regions of the UK.
He said:
“A facility of this size will ensure Wales retains a competitive advantage with enough large scale studio space to service the productions wishing to film here. It has real potential to generate a transformational impact on the Welsh creative industries sector, creating a large scale film and TV production hub.”
Bad Wolf – co-sited in Wales and the US – was set up in 2015 by Jane Tranter and Julie Gardner, award winning TV executives to exploit their US relationships and IP to secure, develop and produce a high-value slate of TV drama projects in Wales.
Bad Wolf’s requirements for studio space in Wales were specific – they needed a minimum of 200,000 sq ft of shooting space, two large stages with ceiling heights of more than 10 metres suitable for accommodating large scale productions and additional office space.
The two linked high bay units at Trident Park – totalling 253,500 sq ft – meet these specifications and are conveniently located with direct access to the M4 with good public transport connections and provide access to a critical mass of Wales based main crew and supply chain companies.
Following a tour of the studio space Ken Skates said:
“A facility capable of accommodating large scale productions is crucial for Bad Wolf to deliver its pipeline of projects which will provide a £120m plus boost for the film and TV sector in Wales. It will also be a key asset for the creative sector in Wales providing facilities to other major TV productions.
“It will deliver long term sustainable economic benefits to Wales, strengthen the skills base and supply chain, attract inward investment and tourism. In addition it will further raise the profile of Wales TV drama production around the world and support the continued growth in TV drama production in Wales.”
Jane Tranter from Bad Wolf said:
“Wolf Studios Wales is set to be a world class facility situated at the heart of a thriving creative and production community in Cardiff. Wales has seen a resurgence in television and film production over recent years and studio space is much sought after. With so many Bad Wolf productions in development we wanted a permanent base for our productions and a user-friendly studio environment for the many other television series and films headed to Wales. Working with Welsh Government on this new space is further evidence of the many opportunities that filming in Wales can now offer.”
Bad Wolf has an ambitious and exciting production slate and has already established strong partnerships with international broadcasters and recently announced including HBO, BBC, SKY, Channel 4 and the History Channel.
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