Exclusive: Sam Mendes' Empire of Light expected to film in Margate from February

Sam Mendes’ hotly-anticipated new film, Empire of Light, starring Olivia Colman, is planned to film in the town of Margate on the south east coast of England from February next year.

Margate is a charming old English seaside town that has become more popular with the younger crowd in recent times, but also still maintains many of the buildings that were there in the 1980s, so is perfectly suited for the film.

Mendes reunites with his 1917 and Skyfall cinematographer Roger Deakins on the 1980s story set in and around a beautiful old cinema.

Empire Of Light marks the first solo original screenplay by Mendes, who is producing with Pippa Harris, his partner at Neal Street Productions.

Colman’s recent credits include The Father, The Crown and her Oscar-winning role in The Favourite. Joining her in the cast is Micheal Ward, winner of the 2020 EE BAFTA Rising Star Award.

Searchlight has scheduled Empire Of Light for an autumn 2022 release in what could shape up to be an awards play.

The studio’s presidents of production, film and television Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum and Searchlight Pictures UK head of development and production Katie Goodson-Thomas are overseeing for Searchlight.