Garage and butchers used for film sequel

FILMING took place in Hambleden on Monday for the sequel to a romantic drama fantasy film on Monday, writes Alex Carter.

Warner Bros Studios Leavesden set up, filmed and dismantled the Practical Magic 2 set in the village on the same day.

The church and its yard, the butchers and the garage were all used.

Drone cameras and period vehicles, including a burgundy Ford which sat in the garage and a single-decker front-engined bus, were used.

Sisters Sally and Gillian Owens, attempt to break a curse set on the multi-generational family of witches, cursed to be loveless for centuries. In their attempt, they confront dark secrets and make sacrifices for each other.

The film, which will be released on September 26, stars actors Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, who also featured in the first film, released in 1998.

It is directed by Susanne Bier, who has received an Academy Award, Golden Globe Award and Emmy Awards.

The award-winning director, writer and producer previously directed Bullock in Birdbox and Kidman in the Netflix series The Perfect Couple.

Rev Andy Storch said he saw some of the script and residents received letters about road closures ahead of filming.

He said: “We have quite a few films made here but we are very happy with it.”

Olga Joscelyne, 49, from Marlow, who works for Lady Hambleden, said: “We went for a walk and the people who were filming were very polite and the vibes were quite good. Last year, or the year before, they were decorating and the flowers were quite nice.”

Emanuel Neagu, 29, manager of the Stag and Huntsman, which was not used for filming, said business dropped. He said: “It made business hard because a lot of people were put off because they couldn’t get here.

“It’s good for the village though because, for example, the other week, we had five men come down because they are fans of the Second World War and there were a few movies filmed here.”

Meanwhile, Hambleden Parish Council has received £750 for the filming of the Marlow Murder Club, which first premiered on March 19.