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Star Wars already worth over £100k to the UK

Hong Kong Star Wars
Hong Kong Star Wars



The latest Star Wars movie has already brought more than £100 million to the UK economy - months before the film actually opens, and well before the tie-in toys become the 'must have' gifts for Christmas. The money has come from production spending alone.

Star Wars: Episode VII: The Force Awakens will be the first of a new incarnation of Star Wars films, backed by Disney and directed by J.J.Abrams. It has reunited Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill, 30 years after they appeared in the original trilogy. They spent more than six months filming at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire between March and November 2013, and the total spend for the period has been published by The Telegraph.

The spending

It says that during this time, the filmmakers spent £147.6 million - which was 'within budget'. The cost of filming isn't usually public knowledge, but when a film is made in the UK, an overall cost is produced to demonstrate the value of the tax breaks offered to the industry.

There's not a huge breakdown of costs, but we do know that some £11.2 million was spent on direct production staff, then there was the enormous army of skilled workers that are required for a film shoot, from travel to catering, and the outside firms brought in to provide their services.

Overall costs will spiral well beyond this, and are expected to double with marketing and the price of producing DVDs and downloads. However, with the film expected to make at least $2 billion at the box office, it's an investment that's going to pay off.

Just the start

This is just the beginning of the money the film will make for the UK. Cinemas themselves stand to benefit from a blockbuster - especially one that comes with a target demographic that's hungry for popcorn.

Then there are the endless tie-ins. Disney itself is bound to make the lion's share from toys and branded tie ins. However, British stores selling them will benefit, and the massive rush timed for Christmas should boost sales.

We can expect fast food restaurants to be stocking 'freebies' associated with the film, which will see pester power ramped up to the max. Franchisees must be rubbing their hands in glee.

And all this is before we count the unofficial tie ins - which have even seen a range of Star Wars Christmas Jumpers do the rounds online (with the tag line 'I am your Father Christmas').

Of course, while UK Plc will be counting the profit from the latest in the franchise, for parents it will be another matter entirely. There's a good chance that once they've forked out for tickets, a cupboard full of merchandise, and several trips to get junk food, they'll be counting the significant cost instead.

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