Hull’s growing reputation as a set-jetting destination has been given another boost, thanks to Superman actor Henry Cavill swooping-in, to film a new movie alongside award winning actress Millie Bobby Brown.
The Hollywood A-lister, along with the Stranger Things actress, were in Hull in early October to film a sequel to one of the most successful movies produced by streaming giant Netflix.
Hull Old Town’s cobbled streets became Victorian London for the follow-up to Enola Holmes, Netflix’s smash hit movie about the sleuthing adventures of the younger sister of an already famous Sherlock Holmes.
Both Cavill – who has now played the ‘man of steel’ in four Superman films – and Brown were filming scenes for Enola Holmes 2, reprising their roles as Sherlock and Enola Holmes from the original movie.
High Street, Scale Lane, Bishops Lane, and Chapel Lane in Hull’s Old Town were closed as filming took place, but some lucky locals spotted both actors on set, along with extras dressed in period costume, and even a horse and carriage.
Inspired by the fiction novels of American author Nancy Springer, the first film was released on the streaming service in September 2020 and achieved more than 76 million views in four weeks, making it one of Netflix’s most watched movies ever.
Now fans are eagerly awaiting the sequel, which is believed to be scheduled for a 2022 release date.
The Netflix blockbuster is just the latest to bring the magic of the movies and TV to Hull.
Last month, ITV Studios filmed in the city for upcoming Georgian-era thriller The Confessions of Frannie Langton. Parts of High Street doubled up as London’s Mayfair for the new ITV murder mystery, written and adapted for the screen by the author, Sara Collins, who won the Costa first novel award in 2019 for the haunting tale.
Set against the dazzling opulence of Georgian London, the four-part drama, starring Karla-Simone Spence (Blue Story, Wannabe) as Frannie Langton, a woman born into a life of slavery who is fighting to tell her own story.
And last year, Hull Old Town – which still retains its medieval footprint with a surviving street plan around the original port area on the River Hull – doubled for Dickensian London as Peter Capaldi and Dev Patel filmed for The Personal History of David Copperfield, released in UK cinemas in January 2020.
Among Hull’s other starring roles were scenes for 2015 movie A Royal Night Out, when the streets of Hull portrayed central London, for the story of how the future Queen Elizabeth and her younger sister Margaret joined the street parties celebrating VE-Day in 1945.
More royal profile for Hull came courtesy of critically acclaimed historical ITV drama Victoria, with Jenna Coleman as the young Queen, alongside Tom Hughes as Prince Albert. Hull Old Town became 19th century London for both season two and three in 2017 and 2019, while the two stars filmed in nearby Beverley, where the magnificent 13th century Minster doubled as both Westminster Abbey and St James’ Palace in the first series.
For those wanting to follow in the footsteps of movie and TV stars, Hull tour guide Paul Schofield runs bookable guided walking tours of the city, including around the historic streets of Old Town (www.tourhull.com).
For tourism information about visiting Hull, see www.visithull.org.