England

England
Other information
Location	United Kingdom

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom in Europe. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north, and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, while the North Sea lies to the east, and the English Channel to the south, separating it from continental Europe. Most of England comprises the central and southern part of the island of Great Britain in the North Atlantic. The country also includes over 100 smaller islands such as the Isles of Scilly and the Isle of Wight.

The country has been featured in multiple Universal properties. The exact time period shown depends on the film. The most commonly shown location within England has been the capital city of London, though other areas have appeared.

Appearances

Some of the Universal films and franchises that have been set or filmed in England are:

• The Mummy (1999) and The Mummy Returns (2001): The opening scenes of both films take place in London, where the protagonists Rick and Evelyn O'Connell live with their son Alex. In the first film, they visit the British Museum and encounter the resurrected mummy of Imhotep. In the second film, they return to London after their adventure in Egypt and face the Scorpion King and his army of Anubis warriors.
• The Bourne Identity (2002) and The Bourne Ultimatum (2007): The spy thriller series starring Matt Damon as Jason Bourne features several scenes in London, where Bourne tries to uncover his true identity and evade his pursuers. In the first film, he meets his contact Conklin at the Treadstone safe house in Alexanderplatz. In the third film, he follows a lead to the Guardian newspaper office and confronts a CIA agent at Waterloo station.
• Harry Potter (2001-2011): The fantasy series based on the novels by J.K. Rowling depicts the magical world of wizards and witches, who coexist with the non-magical Muggles in England. The films show various locations in London, such as King's Cross station, where the Hogwarts Express departs from platform 9 3/4, the Ministry of Magic, which is hidden under Whitehall, and Diagon Alley, a hidden street of magical shops and services. The films also feature other places in England, such as the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, which is located in Scotland, and the Weasley family home, The Burrow, which is in Devon.
• Les Misérables (2012): The musical film adaptation of the stage show based on the novel by Victor Hugo tells the story of Jean Valjean, a former convict who tries to redeem himself in 19th century France. The film was shot entirely in England, using locations such as Greenwich, Winchester, Bath, and Pinewood Studios. The film also recreated Parisian landmarks such as the Notre Dame Cathedral and the barricades of the June Rebellion.
• Fast & Furious 6 (2013) and Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019): The action series featuring street racing and heists has two installments that take place in London. In the sixth film, Dominic Toretto and his crew team up with DSS agent Luke Hobbs to stop a mercenary group led by Owen Shaw, who is planning to steal a powerful device. In the spin-off film, Hobbs and Shaw must stop Owen's brother Brixton, a cyber-enhanced terrorist who is after a deadly virus. The films showcase various London landmarks, such as Piccadilly Circus, Hyde Park, Tower Bridge, and St Paul's Cathedral.

Cities/Locations

Some of the cities and locations in England that have been shown or mentioned in Universal films are:

• London: The capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, London is a global city with a rich history and culture. It is home to many iconic landmarks, such as Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, and the Tower of London. London has been featured in numerous Universal films, such as Frankenstein (1931), Dracula (1931), The Invisible Man (1933), The Wolf Man (1941), The Mummy (1999), The Bourne Identity (2002), Harry Potter (2001-2011), Les Misérables (2012), Fast & Furious 6 (2013), and Hobbs & Shaw (2019).
• Nottingham: A city in the East Midlands region of England, Nottingham is known for its association with the legend of Robin Hood, the outlaw who robbed from the rich and gave to the poor. Nottingham is the setting of the Universal film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991), starring Kevin Costner as Robin Hood and Alan Rickman as the Sheriff of Nottingham. The film features locations such as Nottingham Castle, Sherwood Forest, and St Mary's Church.
• Bloomsbury: A district in central London, Bloomsbury is famous for its literary and intellectual heritage. It was the home of the Bloomsbury Group, a circle of writers, artists, and thinkers that included Virginia Woolf, E.M. Forster, and John Maynard Keynes. Bloomsbury is also the location of the British Museum, one of the world's largest and oldest museums, which houses a vast collection of artifacts from various cultures and civilizations. The British Museum is featured in The Mummy (1999), where Evelyn Carnahan works as a librarian and discovers the map to Hamunaptra, the city of the dead.
• Sherwood Forest: A royal forest in Nottinghamshire, Sherwood Forest is the legendary home of Robin Hood and his Merry Men, who hid from the Sheriff of Nottingham and his soldiers among the trees. Sherwood Forest is a major location in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991), where Robin Hood meets Little John, Friar Tuck, and Maid Marian, and where he builds his camp and defends it from the Sheriff's attack.

Actors/Actresses and Crew born in England

Many actors, actresses, and crew members who have worked on Universal films were born in England. Some of them are:

• Daniel Radcliffe (born 1989): The actor who played Harry Potter, the boy wizard who attends Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and faces the dark lord Voldemort, in the Harry Potter film series (2001-2011).
• Emma Watson (born 1990): The actress who played Hermione Granger, Harry Potter's best friend and a brilliant witch, in the Harry Potter film series (2001-2011).
• Rupert Grint (born 1988): The actor who played Ron Weasley, Harry Potter's other best friend and a loyal wizard, in the Harry Potter film series (2001-2011).
• Helena Bonham Carter (born 1966): The actress who played Bellatrix Lestrange, a sadistic and fanatical follower of Voldemort, in the Harry Potter film series (2007-2011). She also played Elizabeth Lavenza, Victor Frankenstein's fiancée, in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994), and Madame Thénardier, a greedy and cruel innkeeper, in Les Misérables (2012).
• Hugh Grant (born 1960): The actor who played Daniel Cleaver, a charming but unfaithful editor who competes with Mark Darcy for the affections of Bridget Jones, in Bridget Jones's Diary (2001) and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004). He also played the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, who falls in love with his assistant, in Love Actually (2003).
• Colin Firth (born 1960): The actor who played Mark Darcy, a reserved and honorable lawyer who loves Bridget Jones despite her flaws, in Bridget Jones's Diary (2001), Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004), and Bridget Jones's Baby (2016). He also played King George VI, who struggles with his stammer and his role as monarch, in The King's Speech (2010), and Harry Bright, one of the possible fathers of Sophie Sheridan, in Mamma Mia! (2008) and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018).
• Jason Statham (born 1967): The actor who played Deckard Shaw, a former British special forces soldier turned mercenary, who becomes an ally of Dominic Toretto and his crew, in the Fast & Furious franchise (2015-2019). He also played Frank Martin, a skilled driver who transports various packages for a price, in The Transporter (2002), The Transporter 2 (2005), and The Transporter 3 (2008).
• Idris Elba (born 1972): The actor who played Brixton Lore, a cyber-enhanced terrorist who works for a mysterious organization called Eteon, in Hobbs & Shaw (2019). He also played Heimdall, the guardian of the Bifröst Bridge and a loyal friend of Thor, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (2011-2018), and Stacker Pentecost, the commander of the Jaeger program and a former pilot, in Pacific Rim (2013).

Attractions

Some of the attractions at Universal theme parks that are based on or inspired by films set or filmed in England are:

• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey: A dark ride that takes guests through Hogwarts Castle and its grounds, where they encounter various characters and creatures from the Harry Potter films. The ride features a combination of motion simulation, projection, and animatronics. It is located at Universal's Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, Universal Studios Hollywood in Los Angeles, and Universal Studios Beijing in China.
• Revenge of the Mummy: A high-speed indoor roller coaster that immerses guests in the story of the Mummy films, where they face the wrath of the ancient Egyptian priest Imhotep and his army of mummies. The ride uses special effects such as fire, fog, and darkness to create a thrilling experience. It is located at Universal Studios Florida in Orlando, Universal Studios Hollywood in Los Angeles, and Universal Studios Singapore.
• Jurassic World: The Ride: A water ride that simulates a boat tour of the Jurassic World theme park, where guests see various dinosaurs and witness the escape of the Indominus Rex, a genetically engineered hybrid. The ride culminates in a steep drop and a splashdown, where guests encounter the Mosasaurus, a giant marine reptile. It is located at Universal Studios Hollywood in Los Angeles.
• Fast & Furious - Supercharged: A 3D motion simulator ride that puts guests in the middle of a high-octane chase involving the characters and vehicles from the Fast & Furious franchise. The ride uses hydraulic platforms, screens, and wind effects to create a realistic sensation of speed and movement. It is located at Universal Studios Florida in Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood in Los Angeles.

Miscellaneous

Some of the miscellaneous facts and trivia related to England and Universal films are:

• England is the birthplace of many famous authors, such as William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, J.R.R. Tolkien, and J.K. Rowling. Many of their works have been adapted into Universal films, such as Hamlet (1948), Pride and Prejudice (1940), Oliver Twist (1948), The Lord of the Rings (1978), and Harry Potter (2001-2011).
• England is also known for its music scene, especially in the genres of rock, pop, and metal. Some of the bands and artists that have originated from England are The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Queen, The Who, Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, and Adele. Some of their songs have been featured in Universal films, such as "Hey Jude" in Yesterday (2019), "Paint It Black" in The Mummy (2017), "Stairway to Heaven" in Almost Famous (2000), "Bohemian Rhapsody" in Wayne's World (1992), "Baba O'Riley" in American Beauty (1999), "Another Brick in the Wall" in The Wall (1982), "Iron Man" in Iron Man (2008), "The Trooper" in School of Rock (2003), and "Skyfall" in Skyfall (2012).
• England has a rich and diverse cuisine, influenced by its history, geography, and culture. Some of the traditional dishes and foods that are associated with England are fish and chips, roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, shepherd's pie, bangers and mash, pie and mash, full English breakfast, afternoon tea, scones, crumpets, and pudding. Some of these foods have been shown or mentioned in Universal films, such as fish and chips in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001), roast beef and Yorkshire pudding in Bridget Jones's Diary (2001), shepherd's pie in About a Boy (2002), bangers and mash in Shaun of the Dead (2004), pie and mash in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998), full English breakfast in Notting Hill (1999), afternoon tea in The Importance of Being Earnest (2002), scones in The Holiday (2006), crumpets in Despicable Me 2 (2013), and pudding in Nanny McPhee (2005).