THE scene of some decisive ancient battles is ready for a new fight – to conquer the silver screen.
Stirling was host to siege and skirmish during the medieval period, including William Wallace’s defeat of Edward I’s army during the 1297 Battle of Stirling Bridge.
Now the city is preparing for a new challenge as it tries to use its appearance in the forthcoming Robert the Bruce big-budget Netflix drama to capture further lucrative productions.
Strategists at Stirling Council believe big budget Netflix drama Outlaw King, starring A-lister Chris Pine as the Scots knight, could position the area as a key destination for film and TV crews.
The making of the movie brought in the best part of £1 million for the Stirling area and beyond.
A mock 13th-century village was constructed in Mugdock Country Park, near Milngavie, during 10 weeks of pre-production and filming.
Several other scenes, including large battles, were filmed in the park, while Doune Castle and east Loch Lomond were also used to tell the story of Bruce’s transformation to defeated nobleman to king.
Stirling Council’s economic growth, culture, tourism and events team helped director David Mackenzie’s crew identify locations. Now the local authority is to position the area as a key destination for the industry.
Councillor Margaret Brisley, convenor of the finance and economy committee said: “Stirling is blessed with a wealth of castles, lochs and mountains and is ideally located in the heart of Scotland, so it’s no wonder film production companies are continuing to harness the potential it boasts.
“With the new film and TV agency for Scotland, Screen Scotland, having also been officially launched last month, we believe Stirling is perfectly placed to exploit any future opportunities that may arise to showcase this wonderful part of Scotland.”
The Bannockburn councillor went on: “Our mission as a local authority is to continue to attract feature films, television, video and commercial productions to shoot on-location in Stirling, while also protecting the natural environment.
“This has benefits for local services and hotels while transportation companies, restaurants and other local businesses can all benefit.
“Filmmakers use all these facilities, and their spending power can provide jobs and make the difference between a good and bad year for some of our businesses.”
The Outlaw King had its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last week, ahead of its release via the streaming service in November.
The 13th-century village created in Mugdock Country Park
As well as Pine, the production features Kick-Ass star Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the Black Douglas.
Filming also took place at Linlithgow Palace, Dunfermline Abbey, Glasgow Cathedral and Aviemore, among other locations.
The Outlaw King will be shown at the London Film Festival next month before its release to viewers at home. It is understood to be the biggest production ever made in this country.Estimates suggest it has contributed around £17.5m to the economy.
Neil Christison, regional director at VisitScotland, said: “The opportunities that arise from Scotland being seen on screen are immense.
“As well as the initial investment for the local economy when filming takes place, there can be far reaching tourism benefits with film and TV audiences looking to visit the locations of their favourite productions.
“This is a growing trend, with one in five people visiting a location having seen it on screen, so there is huge potential in this area for the tourism industry.
“We have seen a distinct increase in visitor numbers linked to screen tourism in recent years, thanks to the power of Scotland’s locations being featured.”
Christison added: “With the incredible scenic backdrops and historic locations in the Stirling area, which were used in Outlaw King, we hope that the movie will sustain this even further.”
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