EXCLUSIVE: British film studios to rescue Hollywood after movie industry shattered by LA wildfires
Experts and studio executives have already begun planning for a raft of devastating issues impacting the world's movie capital in the wake of the region's worst natural disaster in history
Britain is set to rescue Hollywood as Los Angeles faces enormous challenges amid the recovery from the region's devastating wildfires.
Experts and studio executives have already begun planning for a raft of devastating issues impacting the world's movie capital in the wake of the region's worst natural disaster in history. Key factors that will disrupt LA's entertainment economy include a massive exit of tradespeople taking jobs in the planned rebuild programmes, likely spiralling labour and insurance costs, homeless on- and off-screen talent, and worldwide concern about investing in the "fire-threatened" area.
Leading Hollywood figures - who have nicknamed the capital ‘Brollywood’ due to the UK inclement weather - are looking to London and the UK's film production hubs to help relieve the burden of the recovery, taking on many future multi-million dollar productions. In the short term, famous studios used to filming across the City of Angels are planning to redirect billions of dollars across the Atlantic.
Since 2022 blockbusters like Wicked and The Fantastic Four and movies starring Tom Cruise and Julia Roberts have made London a home base. Apple TV has enjoyed massive collaborative hits in the UK, and currently, Hijack season two with Idris Elba and Silo are based here. The hottest male star of the moment, Glen Powell, is filming The Running Man reboot in the capital. And Warner Brothers will spend at least three years on the upcoming Harry Potter TV series across the UK.
That collaboration is on course to explode as US producers and studio bosses focus on "keeping their businesses moving while dealing with the reality of the apocalyptic fallout." Sandro Monetti, executive producer of the Oscar-nominated short film Room Taken, said: "It's heartbreaking what has happened in Los Angeles, and the wonderful, indomitable people of this magical city are hurting and looking for help. Britain is best positioned to help out Hollywood's entertainment industry workers in its time of need. The special relationship between Britain and America has long endured, and now, from tragedy comes an opportunity to show its strength."
Another Hollywood executive who operates at one of the biggest movie studios spelt out the issues. He said: "Firstly, many of the crafts and tradesmen who work with studios will be needed to help clean up and repair these many homes and businesses that have been destroyed. It will take several years to rebuild these devastated areas. It also means that many people from the industry will be displaced and talent will not stay in LA.
"Simply on an economic standing, many tradespeople will transition from the 'hit and miss, stop-start' contract work life in movies to landing long-term construction and repair work on homes and businesses. The cost of securing electricians, plumbers, and builders will increase. Some stars and many people in production - from sound engineers, writers to editors - are already discussing relocating to other cities with their families until their homes and neighbourhoods are rebuilt.
He continued: "Other US cities and countries like London will offer them opportunities. And insurance costs, which are already high, are sure to rocket for production in LA after this disaster. The knock-on effect is higher costs and another potential reason not to film in greater LA. We are looking at some very challenging times ahead."
Celebrities have supported that insight from the executive, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of being seen as pessimistic about the city's film future, Emmy-nominated Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria noted that the city's image as a star haven belies the truth that "Los Angeles is a working-class city, a union town. Everybody is suffering right now." Anchorman actress Christina Applegate agreed celebrities are "a small portion of this city" filled with families "working their a****s off."
Comedian and TV icon Jay Leno added: "I don't know how you rebuild from this. It is $160m and no insurance in the world has that money." It's estimated that at least 10,000 buildings have been either destroyed or affected, and Federal Authorities note that within four days, over 40,000 applications for assistance have been filed.
Paul Audley, the President of FilmLA, which oversees movie expansion in the city - delivered a chilling observation of the future: "We recognise that no aspect of life in Greater Los Angeles is unaffected by recent fire events and the heartbreaking loss of lives, homes, businesses and cherished community spaces. Many who participate in the region's entertainment economy are directly affected by this tragedy; and many places beloved by nationwide audiences may never return to the screen. "
LA-based British Monetti added: "For nearly 20 years, successive British governments have been offering attractive tax breaks to filmmakers, and that - combined with the additional attraction of a deep talent pool in the UK of craft people and creatives has led to Britain's current position as a production hub. Here in Los Angeles, 'runaway production' - as this exit of so many film and TV projects is known - has been a real problem, especially as California's own tax credits have not kept pace with those offered elsewhere, and the result has been so many workers here having to get on a plane to go to work rather than take the car, bus or Uber."
They continued: "Now that LA is suffering from a disaster, the impact of which will be felt for years, professionals at all levels of the entertainment business here are looking hopefully to London and aiming to find work on the many studio and streaming projects being shot there to feed their families and rebuild their homes. The situation is terrible and unimaginable for many but it could well be that Britain is now best positioned to offer a lifeline to Tinseltown."
Monetti, a fellow producer of Room Taken with Colin Farrell, insists the UK's standards match those of Tinseltown. "Hollywood values the standards of the talent at all levels and knows they are in safe hands while the troubles are overcome at home," he said. Another strong factor for Hollywood "looking across the pond" is the current strength of the dollar against the pound. The favourable exchange rate means that the dollar value of film and TV making is "considerably lower in real terms."
The timing for our film biz could not be better. Pinewood Studios - famed for the James Bond and Star Wars franchises - is undergoing a £800 million expansion to include 21 new stages, a training hub and a publicly accessible nature reserve. It's on course to be the biggest studio in the world, with 51 stages. Government figures say it will create 8,000 new jobs and generate over £600 million annually. It's expected Bond 26 - with a new 007 - will begin pre-production there this autumn.
At the same time, Surrey's Shepperton studio is packed with Greta Gerwig's Narnia, two Avengers films (Doomsday and Secret Wars) and Will Smith's blockbuster Fast and Loose. Hertfordshire's Leavesden has a new Star Trek movie, a remake of The Running Man with Glen Powell, and many seasons of the Max Harry Potter TV series on its slate. Monetti noted: "Our movie industry is booming, and governments' backing of that sector with favourable tax breaks has and will continue to bring in the biggest stars here." The British American Business Council (BABC) is the largest transatlantic business organization, promoting commerce between North America and the UK.
LA branch President Andrew Lewis MBE noted: "The BABC's objective is to support not just LA companies doing business in the UK but also UK companies doing business in LA. LA faces a significant rebuilding effort, and UK companies stand ready to collaborate with local businesses, offering support across many sectors, especially entertainment. Britain is a leader in creating innovative technology and has the necessary creative talent to complement the ingenuity of Hollywood."
In 2021, the film industry in the United Kingdom generated approximately £20.49 billion in revenue. Los Angeles endured its second-lowest amount of Hollywood production ever before the fires in 2024. Filming days in LA County were only beaten by the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic year when the city was shut down.