Aria Film Studios has hosted two-time Oscar winner Sir Anthony Hopkins at its North Wales facility for the filming of feature production A Visit to Grandpa's.
Adapted from a short story by Dylan Thomas, the film stars Hopkins alongside Catherine Zeta-Jones. Principal photography began in Wales on April 7.
The production follows Aria's recent involvement in Hollywood feature Anemone, starring Daniel Day-Lewis and produced in collaboration with Plan B Entertainment, Focus Features and NBC Universal.
Producer Huw Penallt Jones said:
“Working with the team at Aria was an exceptional experience from start to finish. Led by Studio Executive Iddon Jones, the team provided unwavering support and handled every demand of our shoot with total professionalism. The facility itself is modern and highly accessible, but what truly stood out was their ‘can-do' attitude – nothing was a problem, and every request was executed with impressive efficiency. It was a seamless, first-class experience that I will definitely be returning to for future projects.”
Reflecting on his time at the studio, Sir Anthony Hopkins praised the facility, calling Aria “a lovely studio”.
Studio Executive Iddon Jones said:
“We are proud to have welcomed Sir Anthony Hopkins to Aria. A Visit to Grandpa's is a special project, rooted in Welsh culture but with global resonance and reflects exactly the kind of ambitious production Aria was built to support. Following Anemone, this marks another important step in establishing Aria as a trusted studio for UK and international productions, capable of delivering world-class facilities and hosting world-class talent.”
A Visit to Grandpa's is directed by DJ Caruso from a screenplay by Ken Aguado. The film also stars Aneurin Barnard, Artie Wilkinson-Hunt, Geraldine James, Aimee-Ffion Edwards and Celyn Jones. It is produced by Huw Penallt Jones, Hannah Leader and Amory Leader, and is a European co-production from Adler Entertainment and U-Media.
