The location director for the fifth and final instalment of the Indiana Jones series has said that Northumberland "was the right choice" for the Hollywood blockbuster.
In June 2021, Bamburgh Castle was closed to visitors and its towers appeared to be ablaze on more than one occasion. While back then speculation was rife, we now know that it features in the opening scenes of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, which is released in cinemas today (Wednesday June 28).
Starring Harrison Ford, Mads Mikkelsen, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Antonio Banderas, it sees Dr Jones racing against time to retrieve a legendary artefact that could change the course of history. The castle was one of several locations across the UK which has doubled up for a war-torn 1944 Nazi Germany, with filming also taking place at the Leaderfoot Viaduct over the River Tweed in the Scottish Borders and on the North York Moors railway line.
Read more: Bamburgh Castle's outdoor cinema to return this summer after Indiana Jones film release
Speaking to BBC Radio Newcastle's breakfast, location director Duncan Broadfoot said: "We narrowed it down to a couple of options and when we brought our director he immediately knew that Bamburgh was the right choice. We were there for two weeks dressing the castle and it looked really fantastic when we came to film.
The team had scoured the "length and breadth" of the country searching for castles. Mr Broadfoot continued: "We had two key hooks that we were looking for that would tie us into a specific location.
"One was a castle - we needed a castle that had a nice entrance, grand court yard and grand interior space and we found that in Bamburgh. Similarly we were looking for a controllable heritage railway line that we could run a steam train through, shrouded with Nazi symbols.
"In particular, there was a very specific topography that we needed with the landscape surrounding it, and we found that in North Yorkshire as it runs through the national park there. It has such a diverse, rich tapestry of locations up there - we are spoilt for choice really."
The director also revealed that his next project will feature in the North East but remained tight-lipped on what that was.
As filming took place for the blockbuster, 80-year-old star Harrison Ford caused quite a stir in the North East. The Air Force One actor was pictured walking and cycling along the Quayside in Newcastle and enjoyed food Aveika.
He was also spotted in his cycling gear in the Northumberland coastal town of Amble and at the Ship's Cat in North Shields. At the same time as filming took place for Indiana Jones, Alnwick Castle hosted the cast and crew of Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, which was released earlier this year.
