Warner Bros’ The Batman is one of the biggest blockbuster movies of the year and Liverpool’s iconic Walker Art Gallery played a key role in its production. Tony McDonough reports
When the renowned late British writer, AA Gill, visited the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool he lauded its “jaw-dropping magnificence”.
Now the building, which was officially opened in September 1877 by the Earl of Derby, is being showcased in cinemas across the world following the release last week of Warner Bros’ latest film, The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson, Zoe Kravitz and Colin Farrell.
A great deal of the filming took place in Liverpool which provided the backdrop for the fictional Gotham City.
Pattinson headlines the film as the legendary DC Comics superhero. Multiple locations were used around the city but few as impressive as St George’s Hall and the Walker Gallery, which was used with the full cooperation of National Museums Liverpool (NML).
NML’s World Museum was also used as the backstage hub – with members of its events team going into COVID isolation with the film’s crew for the duration of the filming. Liverpool is the most filmed UK city outside of London and NML works with the Liverpool Film Office on many productions coming to the city.
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Karen O’Connor, director of commercial enterprises at NML said: “The Batman gave our venues and our events team the opportunity to play a part in comic book history – and brought a commercial income boost during the challenges of the pandemic.
“We can feel The Batman fever here in the city since the film launched last week – and there have been many keen to spot the real-life filming locations.”
The Walker Art Gallery houses one of the largest art collections in England outside of London. It’s collection actually dates back decades before the gallery itself was opened. In 1819, the Liverpool Royal Institution acquired 37 paintings from William Roscoe who was forced to sell his collection following the failure of his banking business.
Gareth Nuttall, Hosted By National Museums Liverpool’s events sales manager, was one of the team who became part of the COVID-secure crew bubble. He said: “We isolated in the crew hotel for the duration of filming – and supported the operations of the COVID-secure hair, makeup and costume facility. It was an intense, but amazing experience.
“Our venues have become backdrops for a number of major productions – from Doctor Who to Peaky Blinders, and now The Batman. It has been brilliant to see the transformation of the Walker Art Gallery into Gotham City.”
NML’s venues have starred in several recent filming projects, including Doctor Who, Peaky Blinders, Silent Witness, Funny Girl, Tin Star, Anthony, The Irregulars and the Almond and the Seahorse.
NML runs seven museums and art galleries in and around Liverpool. It relies on funding, as well as membership, donations and commercial income from venue hire, events, filming, catering and retail, to keep its attractions and the work it does in the community running.