With The Conjuring 2 bringing Hollywood to Enfield and The Lady In The Van set in Camden, North London is having a moment on the big screen. Hampstead is coming soon too, with Lesley Manville, James Norton, Jason Watkins and Simon Callow all signing up for Joel Hopkins’ drama. All we need is Transformers 6 to be set in Arnos Grove and it’s a full house.
The quartet of British actors has joined the already-cast Diane Keaton and Brendan Gleeson in a yarn about an American widow (Keaton) coming to terms with life alone in a tranquil corner of the city. By chance, she discovers a local man (Gleeson) who’s lived in a shack on the edge of the Heath for 17 years. Developers want him out and Keaton must fight to defend his rights.
Last Chance Harvey man Hopkins, no stranger to autumnal character pieces set in the Big Smoke, is directing from a script by Robert Festinger. He’s the screenwriter behind the punchy Oscar-nominee In The Bedroom, which might give a flavour of what to expect.
Hampstead gets underway using London locations later this year.