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The Welsh locations transformed for Netflix thriller

Rebecca Miles & Gareth Bryer
BBC News
Netflix Actor Tom Hardy dressed in a black coat stares straight ahead next to a woman dressed as a police officer in a gloomy room. Netflix
Tom Hardy (left) stars in new Netflix thriller Havoc, which was filmed in Wales

Although it is set in an unnamed US city, the whole of Netflix's new thriller Havoc - including shootouts and car chases - was filmed in Wales.

Starring Tom Hardy as a "jaded" detective, the film tells the aftermath of a drug deal gone wrong.

Gareth Evans, the Welshman who directed the action film, said recreating the USA in south Wales was "challenging", but he wanted to bring work to the area.

"I started going around, like, Swansea, Port Talbot, Cardiff and Newport, looking for any little bit of architecture that I could find that might pass as a little bit Americana," he said.

"And so we took a look and we thought if we can get 30% or 40% real in camera then the VFX (visual effects) can take care of the rest."

While many scenes were filmed in a studio in Cardiff, a number of real Welsh locations provided the backdrop for action scenes.

The film's producer Ed Talfan said the idea of transforming south Wales into North America sounded "nuts" on paper, but said what was achieved was a testament to the talented crews working in Wales.

1. Brangwyn Hall, Swansea

Getty Images The external of Brangwyn Hall in Swansea, a tall pale brick building with steps leading up to three large arches at the entrance and grass and trees at the frontGetty Images
Concert venue Swansea's Brangwyn Hall was one of Havoc's filming locations

Swansea's Brangwyn Hall doubled up as the exterior of a fictional city police station.

Inside the concert venue, which was built in 1934, the stairwell was also used for filming as part of the film's gala hall.

Evans revealed the film's interior police station scenes were actually shot at the Pierhead building in Cardiff Bay.

"I think we weren't popular when we did that because it was in the middle of half-term week," said Evans.

"So we had to shut down the fair for two days, so for any mums and dads and kids - I'm very sorry."

2. Bute Street, Cardiff

Neil Rayment A giant faded yellow metal staircase structure above the door of a jewellery shop on Bute street in CardiffNeil Rayment
Bute Street in Cardiff was transformed into a busy US city street, complete with metal staircases

Cardiff's Bute Street was turned into a US boulevard with 30cm (12in) of fake snow for one of Havoc's night-time scenes.

Neil Rayment, a goldsmith whose business on Bute Street became part of the set, described how the production team built a fake metal stairway in front of his shop before filming began.

"They came and constructed this amazing thing," said Mr Rayment.

"I've been to New York and it looked like that very sort of iconic steel structure walkway... quite dark, quite industrial, and they'd literally built three storeys of that all up the outside of the front of a building."

He said the front of his shop was also covered with the fake snow.

"Every time we'd bring down the shutter for the next three months after they'd wrapped we'd have like little bits of snowflakes falling at the front of the shutter."

Mr Rayment also made some of the detective badges used as props in the show.

Neil Rayment A row of several fake gold badges that say "detective - criminal investigation services"Neil Rayment
Mr Rayment created some of the detective badges used as props on the show

"They have certain pieces that have to be really authentic. They're called the hero pieces because they're in close-up," he said.

"Then we had some action ones that had to be quite flexible, to make sure they put up with a bit of fighting, because there's always action isn't there when Tom Hardy's involved."

3. Swansea University's Bay Campus

Netflix A busy city street in the US featuring four lanes of tailbacks with pedestrians on the pavement to the left, traffic lights suspended in the air and Christmas decorations tied from high-rise stone buildings.Netflix
Swansea University's Bay Campus was transformed into a busy city street, with the help of some visual effects

A key scene in the film is when Forest Whitaker's character is waiting in gridlocked traffic.

This was shot at Swansea University's Bay Campus, with added visual effects applied after filming.

4. Trade Street, Cardiff

Google A general view of Trade Street. The Principality Stadium and Cardiff Central station can be seen in the background, with a row of traditional terraced houses in front. To the right hand side a red-brick building can be seen, with a more modern orange building to the left and a car parked outside. Google
Trade Street became the basis for the film's Chinatown location

Trade Street, just behind Cardiff Central Station, was used for exterior shots of Chinatown, a fish market and Wong's Alley.

"We came up with a Chinatown and I didn't want it to feel like the Chinatowns you see in western cities like London," said Evans.

"Let's take a look at the old-walled city vibe. We went a little mythic in our world-build."

5. The fishing shack

Netflix The actor Tom Hardy dressed as a police officer firing a rifle in Netflix film Havoc. He is wearing a police vest under a red chequered shirt, has a shaved head and is firing a gun. Netflix
The fishing shack scene required six weeks of night shoots, according to Netflix

The film's fishing shack location was filmed in multiple parts of Wales.

Some interior shots were filmed at the Swansea University Bay Campus.

Other exterior shots were filmed at Dragon Studios in Bridgend.

But the third and final iteration of the shack, used for dramatic scenes, was built in Candleston Woods in Merthyr Mawr, Bridgend.

6. Baglan train station

There are no spoilers here but Havoc's climax - filmed on train tracks - was actually shot at Baglan railway station in Neath Port Talbot.

The film's producer, Ed Talfan, said Evans had "always wanted this final, gigantic set piece in the fishing shack and on the railway sidings".

"I don't think there's any limit to the scale of projects that can come to Wales and hopefully it's the first of many," he added.