People dressed as Storm Trooper characters from Star Wars wait to purchase toys linked to the film Star Wars: The Force Awakens in Times Square, New York. File picture: Carlo Allegri People dressed as Storm Trooper characters from Star Wars wait to purchase toys linked to the film Star Wars: The Force Awakens in Times Square, New York. File picture: Carlo Allegri
London - Production of the next Star Wars movie has brought an economic impact of £150m to Britain, according to company accounts.
Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens will be released in the UK in December. Although the première is three months away, publicity for the film is soaring.
There was an announcement of a new line of toys and products for the film from Disney, the studio which is making it.
The Force Awakens' second trailer is the most viewed film trailer on YouTube in a 24-hour period, having been watched more than 30 million times in a day when it was released in April.
The supply of suitable staff is one of the key reasons for shooting in Britain.
The film has been made at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, and in the period ended November last year, direct production staff peaked at 258.
Together they were paid a total of £11.2m, contributing to the total £147.6m costs of the picture over the period.
The accounts state that “at the period end the estimated total cost was within budget”.
As well as paying staff, costs include equipment hire, travel and paying the studios to shoot there - all generating jobs for hundreds more UK-based workers.
Two further Star Wars movies are due to be filmed in Britain - one being the sequel to The Force Awakens and the other a spin-off from the series.
THE INDEPENDENT