Revealed: Amazon filming new action comedy Heads of State starring Idris Elba and Priyanka Chopra on Tory MP’s 14,000-acre Berkshire estate
- Landowner Lord Benyon allowed Amazon studios to film a movie on his land
- Heads Of State is an action comedy starring Idris Elba and Priyanka Chopra
A Tory peer has granted exclusive access to Amazon Studios to film a blockbuster movie on his country estate, starring Idris Elba and Priyanka Chopra, it has been revealed.
Lord Richard Benyon is the owner of the 14,000-acre Englefield Estate in Berkshire, which has served as a backdrop for a series of other movies and television shows.
The estate’s website boasts of what has been shot there previously, including: ‘Charlie Brooker’s Black Mirror, ITV’s crime drama series Unforgotten and Endeavour, and The King’s Speech.’
Now, Lord Benyon has granted filming permission at Englefield for Amazon Studios movie Heads Of State, an action comedy with Idris Elba, Priyanka Chopra and John Cena.
Although not much is known about the plot, it is being described as ‘Air Force One meets Midnight Run’, according to Deadline.
The estate’s website boasts of what has been shot there previously, including: ‘Charlie Brooker’s Black Mirror, ITV’s crime drama series Unforgotten and Endeavour, and The King’s Speech’
Now, it has been revealed Lord Benyon has granted filming permission at Englefield for Amazon Studios movie Heads Of State — an action comedy starring Idris Elba (left) and Priyanka Chopra right)
The movie will be directed by Hardcore Henry filmmaker Ilya Naishuller, with filming set to start in May.
It will be produced by Safran Company’s Peter Safran and John Rickard. Elba and Cena are both also executive producers, along with Marcus Viscidi.
The script was written by Josh Appelbaum and André Nemec, from draft by Harrison Query.
Former Miss World actress Chopra made her Bollywood debut in 2003’s The Hero: Love Story of a Spy, with her breakout role coming the following year in romantic thriller Aitraaz, which she followed with her roles in Fashion, Barfi! and Mary Kom.
Her Hollywood film debut came in Baywatch where she starred opposite Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron.
Richard Benyon is the owner of the 14,000-acre Englefield Estate in Berkshire, but has steadfastly refused to allow ramblers to freely roam his land
Lord Benyon has previously faced gripes from ramblers unable to roam freely across his land.
His position as a minister of state at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) – which makes decisions on countryside access – has previously been queried as a potential conflict of interests.
The 62-year-old was heavily involved in fellow Conservative life peer Lord Agnew’s review into the right to roam in England’s countryside, which is currently limited to just 8 per cent of land.
Last year it was announced that the review was being wound up and no results would be released.
One insider says: ‘It is rather amusing that Lord Benyon appears to be so reluctant to allow people onto his land but his concerns seemingly go out of the window if a decent amount of money is wafted in front of his face.
‘It seems the adage of “money talks” applies once again, even for a man worth £130 million, according to The Sunday Times Rich List.’
Lord Benyon is the great-great-grandson of three-times Tory Prime Minister Lord Salisbury, who was in office for much of the period between June 1885 and his retirement in 1902.
Amazon Studios were unavailable for comment.
A spokesman for Englefield tells me: ‘We’re not able to comment on private contractual arrangements with production companies.’
