Peaky Blinders creator to bring media village to Birmingham

Steven Knight, creator of the TV series "Peaky Blinders", has announced a new media village which will be based in Birmingham.

Work is reportedly set to start in March this year (2020) on Mercian Studios once contracts have been finalised and signed.

The multi-million pound media village is said to be full of new film and TV studios.

The privately-funded media village is also said to be "a two-minute walk" from the proposed Curzon Street HS2 station in Birmingham.

Steven Knight said: "We're hoping to make the announcement in March. I've been working with the city council, with Andy Street... We are so close to making this happen."

Steven also said that he will be working with British Film Institute and City of Birmingham University to help create apprenticeships.

He added that "The London Film Academy is opening a Birmingham Film Academy - specifically to train people - young and not so young."

Steven also dismissed the idea that broadcasters such as the BBC and Channel 4 have so far chosen to ignore Birmingham's potential "media wise."

He said: "It’s the city's own fault we have been neglected media wise. We've not done anything about it. We've got to make it happen ourselves."

Birmingham is no stranger to welcoming big-budget film crews - Steven Spielberg transformed the city in 2016 as part of filming for 'Ready Player One.'

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