Introduction

Many Americans are leaving behind the ‘American Dream’ and heading for the UK. The question remains – why? In this article, Lee & Thompson breaks down the key reasons for a global shift from the US to the UK for those in the film and TV industry. We also set out how those from the US can move to the UK and the different visa options available.

The US’s current landscape

The Los Angeles film and TV production industry has been facing struggles following the devastating wildfires which spread across Los Angeles. Such challenges, coupled with the fast-moving political backdrop and increasing trend of productions moving to Europe and the UK, reflect a broader transition in the entertainment industry.

The UK’s growing appeal is partly due to more stable legal, political and environmental conditions, making it an ideal destination for productions relocating from the US.

The UK’s production scene  

The UK’s leading role in global film and TV productions, as well as the entertainment space, is increasingly apparent.

The hit movie Barbie was filmed in the UK, contributing more than £80 million to the UK economy during filming.[1] A large part of the filming for Wicked took place in UK studios such as Sky Studios Elstree in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, the Warner Bros Studios Leavesden and the Seven Sisters Country Park in Seaford, Sussex.[2]  Furthermore, production of the highly anticipated Harry Potter TV series is due to start filming in mid-2025 in the UK at the Warner Brothers Leavesden Studios.

Disney’s filming of the hugely successful films Deadpool & Wolverine was largely based at UK-based Pinewood Studios, Buckinghamshire, highlighting the UK’s status as an influential driver behind future Disney productions. More recently, Universal has announced that the first Universal theme park in Europe will be built in Bedfordshire, UK which is predicted to create an estimated 28,000 jobs before opening in 2031. [3]

The UK’s surge as a global production hub comes as Los Angeles, the traditional base for the entertainment industry, has struggled to incentivise studios to keep productions within Hollywood. The UK offers ample space and state-of-the-art facilities for film and television productions, with many studios expanding their operations across the UK. This includes Shepperton Studios, a film studio located in Surrey which acts as the largest film studio in Europe and has attracted major players like Netflix and Amazon MGM Studios, who have secured long-term commitments at the Surrey site.

In September 2024, Disney announced a large investment of $5 billion over the next five years dedicated to film and television production in the UK and Europe. [4] Such moves further solidify the UK’s position in the global production landscape. Key factors behind the UK’s success include its highly skilled production crews, attractive tax incentives and abundant filming studio options, all of which make it an ideal location for international productions.

What this means for you

There are a range of options available for both businesses and individuals seeking to relocate to the UK.

Business routes include:

• Sponsor licence for Skilled Workers – for those who are part of an existing business, or who are wishing to create a new business in the UK they can obtain a sponsor licence to allow them to hire foreign workers.
• Skilled Worker visa – this option allows non-UK nationals to stay or enter the UK to do an eligible job with an approved employer who must have a sponsor licence to allow them to hire foreign workers.
• Creative Worker (Temporary Work) visa – this option is catered to those in the creative industries who wish to come to the UK to work on short term projects for companies which have a sponsor licence.

On the personal route, there are multiple options available. This includes:

• Global Talent – the golden ticket. This option allows an individual to work for any employer if they can prove they are an international leader or potential leader in one of the following fields: arts and culture, academia or research, digital technology.
• Family visa – this option allows a person to apply as a partner or spouse of a person present and settled in the UK. Children can also apply under this route to join their parent in the UK.
• Indefinite leave to remain – an individual could normally apply for this option if they lived and worked in the UK for 5 years.
• Naturalisation / citizenship – an individual can apply for citizenship if they’ve lived in the UK for 5 years and have held indefinite leave to remain in the UK for at least 12 months (unless married to a British citizen).

There is no doubt that now is an exciting time to be a part of UK’s growing film and TV production industry.

Our growing Immigration team at Lee & Thompson can assist you with your personal or business immigration applications to live and work in the UK. Whether you are an owner of a production company looking to hire foreign workers to bolster your employment offering, or an individual looking to relocate to the UK for job opportunities in the entertainment industry, we can assist you with our market leading expertise. Please contact our Immigration team if you are interested.

[1] Warner Brothers: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-67424481

[2] https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/wicked-movie-filming-locations & https://www.islands.com/1738848/wicked-fillming-locations-destinations-visit-united-kingdom-uk/

[3] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz95n2837vgo

[4] https://www.deadbeatfilms.co.uk/blog/2024/9/27/disneys-5-billion-commitment-a-game-changer-for-uk-and-european-film-production and https://www.screendaily.com/news/disney-to-spend-5bn-on-production-in-uk-and-europe-over-next-five-years/5196116.article, https://www.ft.com/content/6434f9d1-87bd-44c4-ab34-ee641399b670