Disney’s new live-action movie, “Peter Pan & Wendy,” has injected $170 million into the Canadian film industry, according to data released by the Motion Picture Association of Canada. The movie, a reimagining of the classic 1953 Disney cartoon, was filmed in British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Quebec, using more than 1,200 local cast and crew members. British Columbia served as the base for the production, with more than $112 million spent in the province, $71 million of which went to local labor and $41 million to local goods and services. Newfoundland and Labrador, on the other hand, served as a backdrop for recreating Neverland and cost $9.7 million over nine days of filming.
Quebec-based animation and visual effects houses contributed $48.6 million to the production. Wendy Noss of MPA-Canada noted the significant economic impact that the film has had on the Canadian creative economy, showing just how much one production can contribute to the industry. Creative B.C. CEO Prem Gill said that partnerships with studios like Disney help demonstrate the incredible talent and skills of the local crew base in British Columbia.
Lana Popham, B.C.’s minister of tourism, arts, culture, and sport, also emphasized the importance of the motion picture industry as an economic engine in British Columbia, and how productions like “Peter Pan & Wendy” demonstrate the impact for workers and businesses throughout the province. The province’s majestic backdrop and highly skilled crew base have earned them a reputation as a preferred destination for major studios like Disney.
“Peter Pan & Wendy” stars British actor Jude Law as Captain Hook and introduces newcomers Alexander Molony and Ever Anderson as the title characters. The movie began streaming on Disney+ on Friday, April 28. The success of the film has demonstrated the continued importance of the Canadian film industry as a hub for international productions, bringing in significant economic benefits to local communities and businesses.