Excitement builds as Bamburgh Castle turned into movie set for rumoured Indiana Jones film

Bamburgh Castle is closed this week with preparations being made to turn parts of it into a movie set, with widespread speculation that it is for the fifth instalment of the Indiana Jones series.

Images captured by members of the public show barbed wire props outside the gates, while a large crane was spotted lifting sets and lighting rigs into the castle.

Local residents have been sent letters telling them not to be alarmed if they hear ‘explosions’ during the filming.

Signs also request that pictures of the set are not taken to keep the feature film ‘a secret’.

Large marquees have been erected on site, while the dunes car park on the southern edge of the village has been closed for use by the production team.

A number of production vehicles and minibuses have also been seen.

Even local residents, however, have been kept very much in the dark.

Barbara Brook, chairman of Bamburgh Parish Council, said: “It’s very hush-hush but it’s exciting for the village and it’s helping to bring trade in for the local businesses which is good news.”

Andrew Bardgett, vice chairman, added: “There have been all sorts of trailers parking up in the links car park, although I’ve also heard a couple of complaints that its closure means people haven’t been able to access the public toilets there.”

Another trader said: “Most of our customers are holidaymakers and I think a lot of them are unaware of what’s going on at the castle. And I’ve not seen anyone famous yet.”

A statement on Bamburgh Castle’s official website details that it is closed for filming, but doesn’t confirm what.

It said: “Bamburgh Castle is closed until 14 June 2021 due to filming. We apologise for any inconvenience.”

Hollywood legend Harrison Ford is said to be reprising his leading role as the iconic adventurer – 40 years after the first film, ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’, hit cinema screens.

The 78-year-old actor will also be joined by English actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Danish actor, Mads Mikkelsen, who played Le Chiffre in Daniel Craig’s first outing as James Bond in 2006.

The film is scheduled for release in 2022.

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