“Let’s Have A Sunderland ‘Barbie’:” UK Chancellor Backs Plans By James Corden’s Fulwell 73 To Build Film Studio In North East 

BARBIE, Margot Robbie as Barbie, 2023. © Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection Warner Bros./Courtesy Everett Collection

UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt wants North East England to get in on the all-consuming Barbie hype.

Speaking with local press over the weekend, Hunt confirmed that his government is currently in talks with a conglomerate of investors, including James Corden’s Fulwell 73 firm, who have set plans to build a new film studio in the region.

Here, Hunt is making reference to parts of the production on Greta Gerwig’s Barbie taking place at Warner Bros Studios Leavesden in Hertfordshire, just outside of London.

FulwellCain,  a joint venture between Corden’s Fulwell 73 and Cain International, submitted plans to local authorities to create the complex on the former Crown Works Studios in Sunderland. Tipped to create and support 8450 jobs, the FulwellCain has said the studio would act as one of “Europe’s largest facilities” and could annually generate as much as £334 million for the local economy.

FulwellCain has said the 1.68 million square foot scheme will include 20 sound stages for feature film and television productions. If approved, work could begin next year and be completed by 2027.

“This is a transformational plan that will reinvigorate not only the city and region’s economy, but will represent a shot in the arm for the UK’s creative industries, and we are determined to do everything we can to ensure the impact of the studios is fully understood and supported,” Fulwell managing partner Leo Pearlman said of the plans earlier this month.