Assassin’s Creed, The Lake, The Mercy and The Promise: Malta – Hollywood’s Favourite Filming Location

Malta has served as a beautiful backdrop for films from Hollywood blockbusters to small independent movies for years. 2016 is no different, as the idyllic islands feature as the milieu for a variety of upcoming box office hits.

Turquoise lagoons, concealed coves, prehistoric temples and unscathed cliffs – who can blame the rich and famous for wanting to film on a piece of these precious islands? Here’s the lowdown on films that have been shot in Malta recently...

Assassin’s Creed

The eagerly awaited Assassin’s Creed, a movie based on the best-selling video game started filming in Malta’s city centre. It features Michael Fassbender and Marion Cottilard in action-packed scenes, leaping from roof to roof amongst the baroque architecture. With Malta’s timeless beauty and deep historical architectural roots, it is the perfect backdrop for the script, which is about a revolutionary technology that unlocks genetic memories. The release date is 1st January 2017.

The Lake

The Lake will be released in January 2017, directed by Luc Besson and considered to be one of the most ambitious international movies of the year. Over 6 months of filming in Malta with a high profile cast featuring actors including Oscar-winner J.K Simmons, Sullivan Stapleton and Ewen Bremner, this picture is set to be an underwater drama around a team of navy seals who discover an underwater treasure. Where else to film such aquatic endeavours than in the mysterious and tranquil sea surrounding Malta, recently voted third best diving destination in the world?

The Mercy

Perhaps the most anticipated blockbuster featuring Malta as a backdrop is The Mercy, starring a prestigious cast led by Rachel Weisz and Colin Firth. Based on a fascinating real-life story about amateur yachtsman Donald Crowhurst, whose failed attempt to win the 1968 Golden Globe Race ends with him creating a disastrous story of travelling the world alone by sea to cover up his failure.

The Promise

The upcoming historical drama The Promise brought more Oscar winners to Malta; it’s directed by Oscar winner Terry George and features Oscar winner Christian Bale alongside Oscar Isaac. The film turns the quaint streets of Malta into the last days of the Ottoman Empire, incorporating its historic and alluring landscape as the backdrop to a drama-filled love triangle.

What do all these releases have in common apart from A-list talent in Malta? Their scripts required an unflawed nautical landscape to film in a setting not only aesthetically gorgeous, but also able to distort time and create a sense of antiquity. It’s no wonder the Malta Film Commission is continually able to attract such high calibre productions to its historic and beautiful panoramas.

For more information on films shot in Malta visit the website.

For more information on Malta go to Vistit Malta and follow on @VisitMaltaUK