Post by jo on Jul 12, 2024 8:29:44 GMT -5
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12 July 2024
Village transformed for filming of comedy
A VILLAGE near Henley was transformed into a set for the filming of a new movie starring Hugh Jackman.
Cottages in Hambleden were covered in fake ivy and wisteria with fake box hedges and flowers in their gardens. Other buildings in the village had neon signs such as “Tattoo” and “Butchers” and the film crew installed plastic graves in the churchyard.
The house next to the village store had a front extension made of black wood cladding and was decorated with fake flowers and a neon sign which read “Police Station”.
Another building was transformed into a butcher’s shop with a large sign on the roof which read “Gilyard meats”, and the word “Sausages” painted on the side.
Street lights were also installed around the village, which was renamed Denbrook.
Hambleden is being used to shoot Three Bags Full, a sheep detective movie which is expected to be released in February 2026.
The live action comedy stars Jackman, who is best known as Wolverine in the X-Men film series, Emma Thompson and Nicholas Braun, who was in Succession.
The production crew are due to be in the village until July 24, with a temporary car park installed in a field above the church for residents and visitors to use.
Martin Porter, who lives in Hambleden, said: “It’s a quintessential English village. Every wealthy American in the world would want to live here.
“The changes have got to be done. It’s all good fun, isn’t it? It’s all over the place but it’s great.”
Meanwhile, Jackman has been visiting the Focus Gym at Badgemore Park in Henley to train while in the area. Manager Jules Greenaway, 41, said: “He was with us for a month and left at the end of June.
“He came maybe six days a week and was incredibly consistent. He is a dedicated fitness fanatic with all of his training for the Wolverine films.
“He was doing deadlifts, bench press, single arm rows and dumbbell bench press.
“He rowed quite a lot, doing advance interval training two or three days a week. We were really happy to have him there.
“My colleague and I were told by the production company that a big star would be coming but t was not until a week before that I was told it was him. When he walked into the gym the first time, I was starstruck to see him. I have grown up watching his films.
“He was an absolute gentleman — really friendly and talking to the team and other members.
“They [members] absolutely loved it and there was a buzz in the gym.”
12 July 2024
