Hollywood comes to Pendle - almost! (From Burnley and Pendle Citizen)

Hollywood comes to Pendle - almost!

10:47am Thursday 26th July 2012 in News

HOLLYWOOD superstars Jeff Bridges and Julianne Moore will star in a film inspired by the legend of the Pendle witches.

Warner Brothers bought the rights to author Joseph Delaney’s The Spook’s Apprentice three years ago.

The book, part of the children’s series The Wardstone Chronicles, features areas of Pendle, as well as Chipping in the Ribble Valley, Blackpool and Preston.

The film adaptation, called The Seventh Son, is loosely based on the novel and will be directed by Russian Sergei Bodrov.

According to the filmmakers, the plot sees Jeff Bridges’ knight imprison a malevolent and powerful witch, played by Julianne Moore.

She escapes and seeks revenge and a battle between good and evil ensues.

But despite being influenced by East Lancashire folklore, the film will not feature any of our local landmarks.

Instead the film, which is expected to be released in February, was shot in Canada and China.

Tour guide and enthusiast of the witches’ story Simon Entwistle said it was sad that filming had not taken place in East Lancashire.

He said: “It is a real shame they will not be filming around Pendle. A lot of the book’s characters revolve around the Pendle witches.

“When I was at school one of my favourite books was Moonfleet, about a Cornish smuggler.

“But when Hollywood got hold of it they went and filmed it in Los Angeles and it just didn’t have the same effect.

“It could have brought considerable tourism to the area.”

Mr Entwistle said the story of the Pendle witches itself would make a great film.

He said: “I can just imagine Judi Dench and Alan Rickman playing some of the characters.”