Empire of Light was filmed at Marget on the Isle of Thanet for nearly 4 months earlier this year, most of the scenes were filmed at the location.
The film is set in the 1980s and the production crew of the movie worked really hard to give authentic vibes to the film, they went to great lengths including transforming some buildings and locations to suit the 1980s style.
Empire of Light is about finding a deep human connection through movies and music. A film based on films sounds like some inception stuff but in reality, the masterpiece is all about the discovery of belonging and healing, a connection greater than oneself if you please.
The film is written, directed, and co-produced by Sam Mendes. It was entirely filmed in England and has several nostalgic vibes to it. Here is everything about the filming locations and dates.
Where Is Empire Of Light Filmed?
Empire of Light was entirely filmed in United Kindom, mostly at Margate on the Isle of Thanet, Kent.
The filming started on February 7, 2022, and continued all the way until the end of May 2022. Such a long time to film the movie right, but the hard work behind the filming speaks for itself.
Empire of Light crew went to great lengths to film the movie, mostly to recreate the 1980s looks and vibes. They even remodeled and transformed Margate’s main seafront road, the Old Town, the beach, Darcy’s Café, and Cliftonville giving them their looks in the 1980s to provide an authentic feel to the movie.
The crew did not stop there, they even made a life-size replica of Dreamland’s old cinema all complete with the ticketing booths, staircase, and chandeliers according to the Isle of Thanet News. Locals of the area might have some minor inconvenience due to road closures for filming, but they might not have mined.
During the filming, which lasted for nearly 4 months, the crew went the extra mile with the props. The filming had fireworks shows, vintage cars on the roads, fake snow, fake rain, and much more addition. All the work is just to give the authentic 1980s feeling to the movie.
Other notable locations used for filming include Worthing Pier Pavilion, Worthing, West Sussex, United Kingdom.
Empire Of Light Cast 2022
Empire of Light has a star-studded cast starring Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward, Colin Firth, Monica Dolan, and Tom Brooke among others.
Olivia Colman Plays Hilary Small
Hilary Small has huge problems in her life, she is a cinema manager. She is struggling with mental health issues for not quite clear reasons. Hilary is also exploited by her boss while overseeing the day-to-day operations of the front house. She finds safe haven with her new employee but their fate is unsure.
Portraying the protagonist Hilary Small is actress Olivia Colman. Her real name is Sarah Caroline Sinclair but she is well-known among her followers by her moniker Olivia Colman. Known for her comic and dramatic roles, Colman has several accolades and awards including one Oscar, one British Academy Film Award, and three Golden Globe Awards among others.
She made her debut in the television series Bruiser back in the year 2000. She is also best known for portraying her majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the television series The Crown. Other appearances among her 117 acting credits include The Electrical Life of Louis Wain, Thomas & Friends: Meet the Characters!, and several others according to her IMDb profile.
Micheal Ward Plays Stephen
Stephen is the new employee at The Empire theater in a seaside small town in England. He has his own struggles with emotions and mental health in the middle of the racism he faces but finds a bond with his manager Hilary at the theater. The two grow a magical bond, something like love, between them but their fate is unknown.
Hilary’s love interest Stephen is played by actor Micheal Ward. He is a Jamaican-British actor and former model best known for his appearance in Top Boy, Blue Story, The A-List, and many others. The actor has 16 acting credits on his IMDb profile since making his debut in 2016 in Brotherhood. He was also awarded the 2020 BAFTA Rising Star Award for his performance.
The 25-year-old actor was born in Spanish Town, Jamaica on November 18, 1997, to his then-18 years old mother Keisha. He has three sisters in his family, and they moved to the United Kingdom when Ward was just 4 years old. He has always had an interest in acting and started pursuing his dream while he was still in college.
Colin Firth Plays Donald Ellis Aka Mr. Ellis
Donald Ellis aka Mr. Ellis is Hilary’s boss or superior manager at The Empire theater. He has exploited Hilary while she worked at The Empire theater but much about Donald’s role in the film has not come to the surface.
Mr. Ellis is portrayed by actor Colin Firth. He has 90 acting credits in his IMDb profile which he has amassed since his debut in 1984 with the television series Crown Court. He has since appeared in acclaimed films and television series including A Single Man, Kingsman: The Secret Service, The Staircase, and several others.
The 62-year-actor was born to academic parents Shirley Jean and David Norman Lewis Firth on September 10, 1960, in Grayshott, Hampshire, England. He broke out of his family traditions pursuing acting rather than being an academic. He started drama workshops at the age of 10 years old and had already made up his mind to pursue acting as a career by the time he was 14.
Other Cast Of Empire of Light
- Toby Jones plays Norman
- Tom Brooke plays Neil
- Tanya Moodie plays Delia
- Hannah Onslow plays Janine
- Crystal Clarke plays Ruby
- Monica Dolan plays Rosemary Bates
- Sara Stewart plays Brenda
- Ron Cook plays Mr. Cooper
- Justin Edwards plays Jim Booth
- Roman Hayeck-Green plays Frankie
- William Chubb plays Doctor Laird
Empire Of Light Plot Summary and Trailer
Empire Of Light’s plot follows a manager at The Empire theater as she struggles with her mental health.
The protagonist Hilary Small oversees day-to-day operations at The Empire theater from the front of the house. As she manages the theater she is exploited by her boss Mr. Ellie leading her to a mental breakdown.
While struggling with her own problems, she finds a bond with her new employee Stephen. Despite having their own emotional and mental problems, they find safe haven with one another making their bond even firmer.
However, their bond could be short-lived just like the theater they work in. In full of uncertainty, the two injured souls find comfort with one another. They jointly have a strange connection with the theater they work with as well according to Collider.
The film’s trailer shows Hilary’s struggle with her mental health. The trailer also gives a glimpse of happy moments spent by Hilary and Stephen together and all the struggles they go through together. It also hints at the lead characters starting their new lives.
To find out if Hilary and Stephen manage to blossom their bond into much higher standing or if they fall with the theater, you will need to watch the movie in your nearest theater once it is released in the United States on December 9, 2022. The film will hit United Kingdom theaters a month later on January 9, 2023.