A key scene in the latest Star Wars blockbuster, The Force Awakens, was filmed in Puzzlewood, a forest in Gloucestershire, according to Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy. She described the location as "the most magical forest on the face of the earth" and revealed it was used for "an extremely important sequence" featuring villain Kylo Ren and his new lightsaber.
Speaking to the BBC, Kennedy praised the site's suitability for the film, saying, "It was pretty amazing when we found it, because Puzzlewood defined everything that we were looking for, and it was extraordinary when we got there." She also expressed willingness to return for future Star Wars films, adding, "We'll just have to figure out the new scene."
Puzzlewood, located in the Forest of Dean, has previously featured in other high-profile productions such as Doctor Who and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. More recently, it has been used for TV series Merlin and Atlantis, as well as films The Huntsman and Jack the Giant Slayer.
A new trailer highlighting filming locations in the Wye Valley and Forest of Dean has been released by local tourism officials. Mark Terry-Lush, a director involved with the trailer, noted that the area's "stunning scenery" acts as a "natural stage" attracting film-makers.
