Potter staying put
Tax issue won't drive 'Phoenix' out of U.K.
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Despite fears among Brit production folk that Potter would follow James Bond's example and shoot in the Czech Republic, Warner Bros. has decided the fifth "Potter" pic will shoot at Leavesden, north of London, like its predecessors, as well as on location around the U.K.
"The next installment of the Harry Potter film series, 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,' will shoot in the U.K.," said a Warners rep.
The value of Hollywood pics shooting in the U.K. is expected to drop 40% to $592 million this year, according to a report from Oxford Economic Forecasting, due to the strength of the British pound and changes in the U.K.'s tax-break schemes.
Further changes to the tax regime, set to take effect March 31, are likely to hit hardest those pics budgeted above $35 million. The percentage of the budget saved by shooting in the U.K. will be reduced from approximately 9% to as little as 2%, according to leading London law firm Olswang.
These changes have led 007 production company Eon to break its bond with the U.K. "Casino Royale" will shoot in the Czech Republic and on location around the world, with just one week at London's Pinewood Studios.
Lensing on "Order of the Phoenix," whose budget is reportedly close to $150 million, is due to begin in February -- meaning pic likely qualifies under the old tax break, Section 42, though the U.K. Treasury could still move the goal posts.
The film will mark the feature bow of Brit TV helmer David Yates, whose work includes the BAFTA Award winners "State of Play" and "Sex Traffic."
The fourth pic in the franchise, "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," will be released Nov. 18.
