Lord Benyon lets crew on his estate to film action movie starring Idris Elba – but denies ramblers
Revealed: Amazon Films 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 colleague has been granted exclusive access to Amazon Studios to film a blockbuster at his 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 the backdrop for a range of other films and television shows.
The estate’s website shows off what’s been shot before, including: ‘Charlie Brooker’s Black Mirror, ITV’s crime drama series Unforgotten and Endeavour, and The King’s Speech.’
Now Lord Benyon has given permission to film in Englefield for Amazon Studios movie Heads Of State, an action comedy starring Idris Elba, Priyanka Chopra and John Cena.
While not much is known about the plot, it has been described as ‘Air Force One meets Midnight Run’, by deadline.
The estate’s website shows off what’s been shot before, including: ‘Charlie Brooker’s Black Mirror, ITV’s crime drama series Unforgotten and Endeavour, and The King’s Speech’
It has now been revealed that Lord Benyon has granted filming permission in Englefield for the Amazon Studios movie Heads Of State – an action comedy starring Idris Elba (left) and Priyanka Chopra right)
The film is directed by Hardcore Henry filmmaker Ilya Naishuller and will begin shooting in May.
It is produced by Peter Safran and John Rickard of Safran Company. Elba and Cena are both executive producers as well, along with Marcus Viscidi.
The script was written by Josh Appelbaum and André Nemec from a 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 breakthrough role the following year in the romantic thriller Aitraaz, which she followed with her roles in Fashion, Barfi! and Mary Come.
Her Hollywood movie debut came in Baywatch where she starred opposite Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron.
Richard Benyon owns the 14,000-acre Englefield Estate in Berkshire, but has steadfastly refused to let walkers roam his land freely
Lord Benyon has previously faced complaints from walkers who were unable to roam freely on his land.
His position as a minister of state at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) – which makes decisions about rural access – has previously been called into question due to a potential conflict of interest.
The 62-year-old was heavily involved in fellow Conservative lifemate Lord Agnew’s research into the right to roam in rural England, which is currently restricted to just 8 per cent of the land.
Last year it was announced that the review was being liquidated and no results would be released.
An insider says: ‘It is rather amusing that Lord Benyon seems so unwilling to let people onto his land, but his worries seem to disappear when a fair amount of money comes to his face.
“It seems that the adage of ‘money talks’ applies again, even for a man worth £130 million, according to The Sunday Times Rich List.”
Lord Benyon is the great-great-grandson of three-time Tory Prime Minister Lord Salisbury, who served much of the period between June 1885 and his retirement in 1902.
Amazon Studios could not be reached for comment.
An Englefield spokesperson tells me, “We cannot comment on private contractual arrangements with production companies.”