Major Film and TV Productions Lighting Up UK and Ireland in Spring 2026
The UK and Ireland are cementing their status as global production hubs this spring, with a remarkable slate of high-profile film and television projects currently in production — from a big-screen adaptation of the video game Elden Ring to the fifth series of Netflix's Bridgerton, a new season of Wednesday filming in Ireland, and the long-awaited HBO Harry Potter series wrapping at Warner Bros. Leavesden.
Background
The UK and Ireland's creative industries have long been a magnet for major international productions, thanks to world-class studio infrastructure, a deep pool of skilled crew and talent, and generous tax incentive schemes. The sector generates billions of pounds for the economy and supports tens of thousands of jobs. Spring 2026 represents one of the busiest production periods in recent memory, with the slate of projects currently underway spanning every genre from gothic fantasy to period romance, spy thriller, and literary adaptation.
On the film side, director Alex Garland is shooting his highly anticipated adaptation of the video game Elden Ring on location across the UK — including the rugged landscapes of Scotland, historic Conwy Castle in Wales, and Greenwich Naval College in London, which has been transformed into the game's Royal Capital, Leyndell. The production, backed by A24, DNA Films, and Bandai Namco Filmworks, boasts a budget reported to be over $100 million and a star-studded cast including Kit Connor, Cailee Spaeny, Ben Whishaw, and Nick Offerman, with a release date set for March 3, 2028.
Key Productions Underway
Brad Pitt is also in Ireland filming The Riders, while acclaimed director Lenny Abrahamson is directing Hillside Drive, a coming-of-age story set in Dublin's Jewish community. Perhaps the most ambitious project of all is Sam Mendes' four-film cinematic event about The Beatles, which is in various stages of production across UK locations. On the television side, Netflix's hit period drama Bridgerton is filming its fifth series in London — a landmark season that will focus on the show's first central same-sex romance, featuring Francesca Bridgerton (Hannah Dodd) and Michaela Stirling (Masali Baduza), with an estimated release in spring or summer 2027.
The third season of Wednesday, starring Jenna Ortega, is in production in Ireland, utilising the stunning landscapes and historic architecture of Counties Dublin, Wicklow, and Offaly. The new season introduces Winona Ryder and Eva Green as Morticia's long-lost sister Ophelia, with a targeted premiere in summer 2027. At Warner Bros. Leavesden, the eagerly awaited Harry Potter series for HBO — a decade-long project adapting all seven books — is expected to conclude filming for its first season in spring 2026, with a premiere date set for Christmas Day 2026. The series features a fresh cast including Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, with John Lithgow as Dumbledore and Paapa Essiedu as Snape.
Why It Matters
The scale and diversity of productions currently underway across the UK and Ireland reflects the enduring strength of the region's creative industries, world-class studio infrastructure, and skilled workforce. AppleTV+'s acclaimed spy thriller Slow Horses, starring Gary Oldman, is filming its seventh and eighth series, while the BBC's The Split Up, set in the world of Manchester's high-net-worth divorce circuit, is among its current productions. The production boom underscores the value of the UK and Ireland's film and television tax incentive regimes, which have been instrumental in attracting major international productions and sustaining a thriving domestic industry.
Local Impact
Belfast continues to attract major international productions, with the second series of the Game of Thrones spin-off A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms filming in the city — production began in December 2025 and is expected to wrap in June 2026, with the series also shooting in Gran Canaria. The production brings significant economic benefit to Belfast, supporting hundreds of local crew, suppliers, and hospitality businesses. Northern Ireland Screen, which administers the region's production incentives, has been instrumental in securing these high-profile projects, and the continued presence of major productions in Belfast cements the city's reputation as one of Europe's premier filming destinations.
What's Next
With several of these productions expected to wrap in the coming months, audiences can look forward to a rich pipeline of UK and Ireland-made content arriving on screens in 2026 and 2027. For the latest on the Elden Ring film, see ShortList's exclusive on the production. For updates on Wednesday season 3 filming in Ireland, see RTÉ Entertainment's report on the Irish production.
