Disney inks long-term deal with Pinewood Studios
David Farnor | On 09, Sep 2019
Disney has inked a major new deal with Pinewood that will give the House of Mouse use of the stages, backlots and other production accommodation at the Buckinghamshire studios
The long-term agreement follows a similar deal between the Pinewood Group and Netflix to lease sizeable space at the group’s Shepperton Studios, which was signed a few months ago. Together, they underline the planned investment by each media giant in British productions, as well as the intended scale of their operations at a time when Disney is launching its own rival streaming platform, Disney Plus.
They also come at a time when studio space in the UK is an increasingly valued commodity, with competition fierce for a scarce supply. While Disney and Netflix’s presence will cause concern for smaller companies seeking space, there are planned expansions at Pinewood and Shepperton for several new soundstages.
Paul Golding, Chairman of Pinewood Group Limited, says: “It’s wonderful to have Disney here at Pinewood. They’ve been making great films with us for many years and the fact they want to shoot so many more here is testimony not only to the quality of the teams and infrastructure at Pinewood, but also to the British film industry as a whole.”