Glasgow: a new hotbed for Hollywood’s biggest movies
As the biggest and most heavily-populated city in Scotland, Glasgow has always been known as a haven for the arts. It’s has some of the best and most famous music venues in the United Kingdom, a bustling independent film scene, and a storied history of art and architecture, but in recent years it’s become one of the favoured backdrops for Hollywood’s biggest movies.
It used to be a rarity for world-renowned superstars to descend upon Glasgow to shoot an action-packed and effects-heavy blockbuster, not that the city ever experienced a drought of quality cinema setting up shop on the streets. Danny Boyle’s Trainspotting, Jonathan Glazer’s Under the Skin, and Ken Loach’s Sweet Sixteen are just some of the acclaimed films to have pitched up for principal photography, but blockbusters have now become the norm.
Part of it is due to Glasgow’s gridded street system and distinctive architecture making it a fitting stand-in for either a real or fictional American city, but another significant element is nothing but pure economics. It’s often cheaper for Hollywood films to travel to the other side of the world than looking towards their own backyard, with the Glasgow Film Office reaping the rewards and sharing the spoils.
Almost £58million was generated in 2022 alone, and the boom period is poised to continue after so many star-studded undertakings decided to call Glasgow home. George Square doubled for Philadelphia in World War Z, acted as the backdrop to a high-speed vehicular chase in Fast & Furious spinoff Hobbs & Shaw, became both Dundee and London for Succession, and took pride of place in the opening action sequence of the otherwise terrible The Flash.
Fast & Furious 6 crashed cars on the Broomielaw, the Necropolis cemetery was seen in Matt Reeves’ comic book reboot The Batman, St. Vincent Street was transformed into 1960s New York City for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Glasgow University’s famous cloisters welcomed Netflix’s historical epic Outlaw King, the streaming service’s frivolous romance sequel The Princess Switch: Switched Again touched down at Glasgow Cathedral, and the entirety of Batgirl was shot on location before being stuffed into the vault never to be seen by Warner Bros.
Sam Mendes’ Academy Award-winning 1917 incorporated the Govan dockyards into its visually-dazzling aesthetic, both Avengers: Infinity War and the ninth Fast & Furious flick had action scenes unfold in Edinburgh but decided Glasgow was worth the trip for the second unit, and The Batman was hardly the first to use Glasgow as Gotham City after Christopher Nolan’s crew descended to capture exteriors for The Dark Knight Rises.
There’s always been filming going on in Glasgow, but it’s only recently that it’s gained a reputation for being one of Hollywood’s favourite destinations. It might be a nightmare trying to navigate through the city centre when Harrison Ford’s stunt double is riding on horseback past the nearest shop or Dwayne Johnson is chasing down Idris Elba on a motorcycle right in front of the pub, but it’s worth it for the sense of local pride pointing out the familiar sites and famous haunts on-screen.