A campaign has been launched to save Elstree Studios, the renowned film studios where production for the first Star Wars film took place. The studio in Herfordshire was chosen by George Lucas to shoot the first film in the franchise but faces a significant repair bill due to aging infrastructure, including asbestos and 'dangerous roofs'.
The future of studios, also used to shoot hit Netflix show The Crown, is currently under discussion, as a report suggests that repairs could cost a minimum of £150 million. Hertsmere Borough Council, which owns the Elstree Film Studios company and the site, is considering the necessary investments to ensure the studios can continue to thrive.
However, Elstree councillor Morris Bright, who has been a member of the Elstree Film Studios' board of directors for 16 years, believes that the studios remain an ideal location for high-end television production.
Councillor Bright emphasized the intangible value that Elstree Studios brings to the local community. He said "You cannot put a price on the way people feel when they drive past the studios or see something on television. It's part of the fabric of the community. It's part of the DNA of the area."
Iconic films shot at the studios inclue the first three Star Wars movies and Alfred Hitchcock's "Blackmail" in 1929. Councillor Bright told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "Elstree Studios is a very special place. It's a place where history has been made. It's a place where dreams have been made. It's a place where people have come to see their heroes."
Councillor Bright expressed his support for further investment in the site, emphasizing its proximity to London and its potential as an ideal location for high-end television and entertainment production. He said, "We are in a very good position. We are very close to London. We have got the infrastructure. We have got the talent. We have got the history. We have got the legacy."
He also mentioned that the studios have a strong lineup of clients for the next four to five years, providing an opportunity to develop a sustainable future for the business. Councillor Bright stated, "We have got a very strong pipeline of work for the next four to five years. That gives us the opportunity to develop a sustainable future for the studios."
To oversee the operations of Elstree Film Studios, a new board of directors has been selected, including industry experts and professionals from various fields. The council aims to ensure that Elstree Studios remains a valuable asset for the borough and its residents.
In a statement last week, council leader Cllr Jeremy Newmark (Lab, Borehamwood Cowley Hill) said a £15.6m investment into the studios' new Platinum Stages, which opened last summer, is evidence the authority is committed to Elstree.
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