Marv Studios: Hollywood comes to Derby as blockbuster movie scenes were filmed at Chester Green

It’s a far cry from the days when the building pounded to the sounds of engineering work, but the former Aida Place foundry has come back to life nearly 20 years after it closed as a factory – this time to cries of “cut” and “this is a wrap.” The venue in City Road, Derby, became a live location this week for filming part of a new production by Marv Studios, which operates a film studio/stunt training academy in the former Aida Bliss factory as part of a £13m investment. in the city.

The studio has decided to use the place to film some upcoming, but as-yet unnamed, new action films. Equipment trucks, marquees and actors moved in and began work on Monday morning and everything was scheduled to be completed by the end of the day on Tuesday (November 21). The factory is actually an eponymous part of the film and Chester Greene and Derby are incorporated into the script.

Local residents in the Chester Green area were invited to take part in an advance briefing two weeks ago about upcoming road closures and parking arrangements. Roads were closed around Parker’s Lot and part of City Road along the plant. Security measures were tightened, and pedestrians were prevented from passing on closed roads and forced to wander around the area where the shooting occurred.

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Supervising site manager Andy Buckley said he was delighted with how the first engagement with Marv Studios and local residents had gone. “We wanted to make sure they (the residents) were well prepared for what was going on and we liaised with them and the city council all the time to keep everyone informed,” he said.

“Many residents came out on the first day to see what was happening and I think they will be pleased to know that the filming also included footage of Chester Green, the factory and Derby as they are incorporated into the film by name.”

Rehearsals were taking place when Derbyshire Live were there and Damien Walters, a former gymnast and more recently stuntman from Derbyshire, was seen offering advice, while the same short scene was shown several times.

Local councilor Martin Repton visited the filming site and said: “What a coup, to have Marv Film Studios invest £13 million in Derby by creating these unique training and rehabilitation facilities and film studios is a massive achievement.

“It puts Derby on the map of international film circuits and to film a new blockbuster this week that will be released in two years is very exciting. Not just for local people but for the wider audience in Derby and the country beyond.

“This is the only facility like this outside of Los Angeles and many other countries in Europe would be envious of what has transpired here in Derby. There were many actors involved here in the filming but their identities, as indeed it is,” details or information about the film are carefully kept. Ultra-kept secret for commercial and other understandable reasons. “These are really exciting times.”

Locals seemed happy that Chester Green was the center of the film world for a few days. A passerby shouted: “Hollywood in Derby. Great!” “I think for a few days of disruption with accessibility and parking, it helps to be a part of something like this,” said another resident who was walking his dog. A friend of hers added: “I hope more blockbuster films will be produced here in the future.”

It is estimated that about 150 people participated in the film’s work over the past two days, staying in local hotels and dining in city restaurants, and the city council hopes, in the process, to boost the local economy.

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