Wonka film provides golden ticket for St Albans park jackpot

Filming of a trailer for the Wonka movie has provided a aureate summons for a £25,000 parkland upgrade.

Verulamium Park successful St Albans was utilized by Timothée Chalamet, who plays Willy Wonka, and a Warner Bros movie unit past year.

St Albans City and District Council has revealed it was paid £41,000 for usage of the park, with the £25,000 ring-fenced specifically for parkland improvements.

Councillor Helen Campbell said the wealth would beryllium enactment to "very bully use".

She said she could not uncover the projects being considered but said it would not beryllium utilized for regular attraction and determination were "lots of things connected our imaginable privation list".

The publication volition beryllium combined with wealth made from different events held astatine the park, specified arsenic Pub successful the Park and Comedy Garden, taking the full disposable walk to upwards of £35,000.

Ms Campbell said the wealth was "really welcome" astatine a clip erstwhile authorities faced fiscal pressures.

Teams moving connected Wonka, which was chiefly filmed astatine Leavesden Studios successful Hertfordshire, spent astir time filming successful the parkland and adjacent Abbey Mill Lane.

Ms Campbell said the assembly was doing "enhanced marketing" to entreaty to much films crews.

"We'll support connected pushing St Albans arsenic a fantastic location, it's adjacent to London, it's got each that practice that historical backdrop that crews are looking for," she said.

The film, based connected Roald Dahl's much-loved children's publication Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, has been directed by Paddington film-maker Paul King.

It besides stars Oscar victor Olivia Colman, Oscar nominee Sally Hawkins and Mr Bean prima Rowan Atkinson, arsenic good arsenic erstwhile Great British Bake Off presenter Matt Lucas.

A clip of the advert released past week showed Hugh Grant pictured for the archetypal clip arsenic an Oompa Loompa.

In taking connected the cardinal role, Chalamet follows successful the footsteps of Gene Wilder, who starred successful 1971's Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory; and Johnny Depp, who appeared successful Tim Burton's 2005 adaptation.