Disney plans to invest $5 billion in production in the UK and Europe over the next five years, according to Jan Koeppen, Disney's president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Following the success of Inside Out 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine (the latter of which was filmed at Pinewood Studios), Disney has committed to spending $1 billion a year for the next five years in the UK and Europe on films, Disney+, National Geographic and other TV productions.
Pinewood is already in production on The Fantastic Four, and recently wrapped filming on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs starring Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch, as well as Searchlight Films' The Roses. A new Star Wars movie is also in the works.
Koeppen revealed his investment plans in an interview with the Financial Times, saying the UK and Europe would be essential for US studios' future productions.
“We are probably one of the fastest growing media companies[in Europe, the Middle East and Africa],” Koeppen said, “and have been for the last few years, but we expect to see even more growth in the future.”
Deadpool & Wolverine is set to begin filming in the UK, including in Norfolk, in May 2023, before resuming filming in November after the SAG-AFTRA strike. It has already grossed more than $900 million at the box office and is on track to hit $1 billion this weekend.
