Makers of Kingsman franchise use redundant Derby factory for film shoot

Film crews on the site of the former Aida Bliss factory in Derby

A redundant factory in Derby has been the latest location for a Hollywood film shoot.

The former Aida Bliss site on City Road, in Chester Green, has been a hive of activity for the past two days.

Marv Studios, responsible for the Kingsman franchise, is keeping tight-lipped on a name for the future film.

The building is subject to a £13m ($16.3m) investment to turn it into Europe's first state-of-the-art film studio and stunt training facility.

The road was closed on Monday and Tuesday for filming and stunt work.

City Road in the Chester Green area of Derby and surrounding streets were closed for filming

Andy Buckley, the supervising location manager at Marv Studios, is in charge of choosing where filming takes place.

He told BBC Radio Derby the former factory is integral to the story, adding: "The impact to the area will be immense, certainly once the film is released and it will be identifiable as being in Derby.

"There's always a case for the local community."

Asked if any celebrities were on site, Mr Buckley added: "Unfortunately, I cannot say."

The investment project is being led by Marv Studios and Damien Walters, a Derbyshire-born former Team GB gymnast turned stuntman.

The 41-year-old has worked on films such as Captain America: First Avenger, James Bond's Skyfall and Kingsman: The Secret Service.

Marv Studios, the makers of the Kingsmen franchise, is shooting a film in Derby

Bruce Wiggins, who is part of the residents' association for the area, said he believes the film would be released in 2026.

He added many people in the area were able to watch some of the stunts.

"It's been a really positive experience for Chester Green. It's been a lot better than I expected. I thought it would be carnage," he said.

"There's been a rumour there was an actor from Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels here but I think it is mostly stunt people doing their jobs."

The factory joins a list of Derbyshire locations that have appeared in film and TV in recent years.

The village of Stoney Middleton welcomed Tom Cruise and the Mission Impossible franchise in 2021, while parts of the Peak District were used to film scenes for HBO's Game of Thrones spin-off House of the Dragon.

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