‘Don’t panic’ Warning posted as film crew cordons off street
PASSERS-BY were told not to panic if they saw bodies and weapons near Bristol Temple Meads on Sunday.
Film and production crews cordoned off part of Glass Wharf, near the back of the station, and displayed a bizarre warning about the props that would be in use.
The walkway and cycle route between Anvil Street and the ‘cheese grater’ bridge, officially known as Meads Reach Bridge, was closed off with barriers for most of the day.
A sign in position at the bottom of the bridge, next to the HMRC building, read: “Caution! Filming in progress.
“Filming with weapons and fake bodies.
“Please be aware there will be replica weapons and fake bodies in use within this filming area. “Please do not be alarmed. “All relevant agencies and emergency services are aware and have approved our plans.”
A London-based number was
listed for anyone with concerns about what they saw.
The closure, which also covered Pugs Lane alongside the Ibis hotel, had been lifted by 3.45pm.
Pedestrians and cyclists had to divert via Oxford Street until then, and people were stood on guard around the perimeter of barriers.
Two separate sources said that the crews were filming War of the Worlds. This has not been confirmed by the production team.
Fox aired the new television adaptation earlier this year, based on the science fiction novel by H.G. Wells – not to be confused with a BBC adaptation which was televised at the end of last year.
The Fox series starred Gabriel Byrne and Elizabeth McGovern.
Filming took place in several Bristol locations last year, including in Eastville, and Fox has confirmed that the show will return for a second series.
Director Johnny Capps told Deadline social distancing measures should lend themselves well to the nature of the programme.
He said: “It’ll certainly help that, as a post-apocalyptic sci-fi, War of the Worlds is all about small, isolated groups and vast, empty landscapes.
“Fortunately, we are a show which is in a world where there aren’t that many people around.”
He said the shoot would mainly be taking place in a studio facility in Newport.