Hollywood lands at cathedral for Avengers movie
Green screens and other props, inclduing a six-foot statue and huge urns, have also been spotted in the cathedral
SHAZAM! It’s what the people of Durham have all been talking about and the day has finally arrived, as the cathedral is transformed into the set of a superhero blockbuster starring Hollywood’s heart-throb stars.
Avengers: Infinity War features a starstudded cast, some of whom are likely to descend on the North East.
And filming on the latest Marvel Avengers movie – starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hiddleston, Scarlett Johansson, Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth and Zoe Saldana – was getting ready to kick off at the cathedral yesterday.
A team of craftsmen moved in early as they worked to build a stone balustrade in the main nave.
For over a week now, lorries full of equipment have been stationed outside of the centuries-old place of worship. Crew members have been busy putting rigging and cables in place for camera and lighting equipment.
Green screens and other props, including a six-foot statue and huge urns, have also been spotted in the cathedral, while the Galilee Chapel is closed to the public.
Producers have been tight-lipped on plot details so far but it will build on the story lines set out in the previous 15 films set in the Marvel universe.
Filming has already taken place in Edinburgh, which included blowing up a truck on The Royal Mile, bringing parts of the city to a standstill.
Durham Cathedral, including its Open Treasure exhibition, will be closed to visitors until Saturday, May 6, and again on Tuesday, May 9.
Services will take place as usual each day with morning prayer at 8.45am, holy communion in the Chapel of the Holy Cross at 12.30pm and Evensong in the quire at 5.15pm.
A spokeswoman for Durham Cathedral said a “major project” was under way but was unable to comment any further.
She added that while the cathedral was closed to visitors, volunteers would meet tourists on Palace Green and offer additional tours of the exterior of the World Heritage Site. Durham Cathedral has previously been used for location shoots for other major films, including Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
Filming on the Avengers production, due to be released on May 4, 2018, started at Pinewood Atlanta Studios in America in January and has been going on in Scotland since February. Directors Joe and Anthony Russo posted a picture of themselves at the cathedral last month.
The comic book blockbuster is the latest movie to be filmed in the North East after Transformers: The Last Knight was shot here last year.
In September, roads around Monument in Newcastle were closed while production crews shot scenes for the fifth instalment of the sci-fi epic, featuring Mark Wahlberg and Sir Anthony Hopkins. Army-like vehicles, helicopters and cranes with cameras could be seen around the city.