It’s shaping up to be quite the week in James Corden’s post-Late Late Show life. Hot on the heels of announcing his return to the London stage in the new play The Constituent, on Monday the former CBS late night host’s production company, Fulwell 73, received the go-ahead to begin construction on a UK film and television studio that will cost more than half a billion dollars, according to Deadline.
Fulwell 73 produced The Late Late Show with James Corden for CBS, and it has partnered with the investment firm Cain International on the joint venture Crown Works Studio, which will be located in Sunderland.
Those backing Crown Works say that the 1.6 million-square-foot studio will create 8,000 jobs and generate roughly $425 million for the local economy each year.
Corden and his colleagues submitted plans for the studio last year, and the a city council in the North East of England finally gave them the thumbs up to move forward with Crown Works, which will be one of the largest production facilities in Europe, offering 20 premium sound stages.
“This is a huge moment for Sunderland, the North East and the UK – unlocking untapped potential to further build our world-leading screen industries,” said Leo Pearlman, Managing Partner at Fulwell.
“Crown Works Studios will deliver thousands of jobs at all levels – creating economic growth and new opportunities for people living across the North East today. Building these studios will kickstart the creation of an entire production ecosystem – ensuring the benefits are felt far and wide – throughout the North East, and beyond the creative sector.”
Physical production continues to be a growing sector in the UK. Last year’s highest-grossing movie, Barbie, was filmed in Hertfordshire, giving Chancellor Jeremy Hunt high hopes for the new Sunderland studio, which has support from the likes of the BFI and Pact.
Corden is no doubt popping a celebratory bottle after getting the official greenlight and making his big announcement about The Constituent, in which he’ll star opposite fellow BAFTA Award winner Anna Maxwell Martin. She’ll play a hard-working opposition backbencher whose ideals of public office are tested by the demands of a man in crisis (Corden).
Rather than replace Corden with a new host of The Late Late Show, CBS chose to fill his time slot with After Midnight, hosted by comedian Taylor Tomlinson. Corden continues to interview celebrities on his new SiriusXM show, This Life of Mine With James Corden, where his recent guests have included David Beckham, Jeremy Renner, Kim Kardashian, and Martin Scorsese.
