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You can buy almost anything on Amazon, and we've all made some impulse buys - and now Amazon, with all that money you spent there, is making a bit of a surprise buy for them: a historic UK film studio that was once slated to be turned into apartment buildings.

Amazon Prime video has bought Bray Film Studios, an 18th century mansion along the river Thames converted into a sprawling filming location with five sound stages, numerous workshops, offices, and a backlot.

Amazon had been renting the facility beginning in 2022 as it moved filming of Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power from New Zealand after its first season. Among the projects filmed at Bray Film Studios is the cult-hit The Rocky Horror Picture Show, many of the Hammer horror films, Alien, Doctor Who, Space: 1999, Poirot, and Rocketman. 

"With Bray as our creative home in the UK, we are committed to deepening our relationships with the UK creative community, which is rich with world-class storytellers and creative talent of all kinds," says Amazon's head of Prime Video Mike Hopkins. "The acquisition of a studio with such a storied heritage not only empowers us to produce more film and television in the UK, but also unveils a wealth of opportunities in the local community with respect to jobs and skills training at all levels of the production process."

After Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power season 2 wraps, Amazon plans to film season two of its spy series Citadel.

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