Tom Hardy’s Havoc Ignites a Welsh Creative Revolution
Netflix’s Welsh Investment Transforms Communities and Careers
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Netflix’s commitment to Welsh-made TV and film has reached a new high, with the streaming giant investing $265 million in the region over the past five years, a move that has fueled economic growth and positioned Wales as a premier destination for global productions.
The upcoming release of Tom Hardy’s Havoc, directed by Welsh filmmaker Gareth Evans and set for April 25, stands as the largest feature ever filmed entirely in Wales, solidifying the nation’s reputation for large-scale, high-profile projects.
“From ‘Sex Education’ to ‘The Crown,’ and now to ‘Havoc,’ some of our most beloved titles were filmed or produced in Wales,” said Anna Malet, Netflix Vice President of Production Management, UK, highlighting the breadth of the company’s Welsh portfolio.
Major productions such as The Witcher, Sex Education, and The Crown have chosen Welsh landscapes for their unique visual appeal, with Sex Education making use of the Wye Valley, Cwmcarn Forest, and the Wye River, while The Crown recreated Prince Charles’s 1969 investiture at Caernarfon Castle, the original location of the historic event.
The Witcher’s latest season was filmed in Llanberis, Gwynedd, further cementing Wales’s status as a creative hub.
Netflix’s first-ever Welsh-language drama, Dal y Mellt, adapted from Iwan ‘Iwcs’ Roberts’ novel, was released in 2023 and praised for bringing Welsh storytelling to a global audience, with S4C’s CEO Sian Doyle calling the deal “fantastic news for Welsh language drama.”
The impact of this investment extends well beyond the screen, with every pound spent by Netflix in Wales benefiting multiple sectors: 58p goes to TV and film, 30p to property and construction, 7p to rental and leasing, and 5p to creative arts, according to figures from Creative Wales.
Initiatives such as the ‘IGNITE Your Creativity’ programme, run in partnership with the National Youth Theatre, have supported over 350 young people across Welsh cities, preparing the next generation for careers in the creative industries.
“We are immensely proud of our Welsh creative industries, which employ over 35,000 talented individuals, and the world-class infrastructure we have in place for film and TV productions,” said Jack Sargeant, Cultural Minister of Wales, underscoring the sector’s growing influence and the global recognition of Welsh talent and locations.