Walt Disney Co (NYSE:DIS, ETR:WDP) plans to invest at least $5 billion (£3.9 bilion) in the UK and continental Europe over the next five years to produce movies and TV shows, the Mouse House’s European boss told the Financial Times.
The entertainment monolith already has a sizeable production presence in the UK, with all previous Star Wars films being filmed at Pinewood Studios in Iver Heath, England.
In-production films at Pinewood include a new Fantastic Four movie and another unnamed Star Wars movie.
Disney’s seemingly endless string of mass productions, which includes the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has been met with mixed critical and commercial successes in recent years.
But this year saw Inside Out 2 take in more than $1.5 billion, making it the highest-grossing animated film of all time, while Deadpool & Wolverine is currently making waves at the box office.
Now Disney is hoping to capitalise on its second wind by pumping $1 billion into productions across the UK and Europe over the next five years.
Disney is also expanding its other European ventures, including a €2 billion investment in Disneyland Paris and the construction of four additional cruise ships in Europe.