EAST Lothian is set to take to the big screen in one of this summer’s biggest films.

Churchill opens in cinemas across the country next Friday (June 16), with Newhailes House, Musselburgh, and Yellowcraig among the backdrops used (see pic below, courtesy Lionsgate).

East Lothian Courier:

The film, which is set in the 96 hours ahead of the famous D-Day landings in June 1944, is directed by Jonathan Tepiltzky, who is no stranger to East Lothian.

He directed The Railway Man in 2013, which starred Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman, and featured East Lothian’s coastline.

Councillor John McMillan, East Lothian Council’s spokesman for economic development and tourism, said: “Seeing East Lothian on the big screen is not only tremendously exciting, it also has a positive economic impact for local businesses and showcases East Lothian to a worldwide audience.

“We look forward to welcoming more production companies to East Lothian, as well as visitors who want to see for themselves what the county has to offer.”

The film, which stars Brian Cox and Miranda Richardson, follows Britain’s most famous Prime Minster Winston Churchill as he battles his political enemies and personal demons before taking the final decision to launch the Allied Forces’ attack on Nazi-occupied Europe at Normandy.

Making the most of the region’s period and picturesque locations, Edinburgh and East Lothian double for London and Kent throughout the film.

East Lothian Courier:

National Trust for Scotland property Newhailes, the 17th-century Palladian house in Musselburgh, stands in for Churchill’s family home, Chartwell (see pic above, courtesy Film Edinburgh).

It’s also the backdrop of where actor Cox delivers Churchill’s famous final broadcast to rally the troops for the D-Day landing.

Rhiannon Naismith, property manager for Newhailes, said: “Newhailes has a starring role in Churchill and looks fantastic.

“We hope that film-goers are inspired to visit in real life after seeing the house as an amazing backdrop to several scenes.”

Other key locations include Yellowcraig beach, near Dirleton, a scene where Churchill remembers his disastrous command and mass slaughter of troops cut down on the beaches of Gallipoli in 1915 – a scenario he fears repeating with D-Day (see pic below, courtesy Lionsgate).

East Lothian Courier:

Churchill was filmed on location in the region over four weeks in June 2016, along with a month’s additional preparation.

Rosie Ellison, film manager for Film Edinburgh, said: “There is a close working relationship between Film Edinburgh, East Lothian Council and City of Edinburgh Council to help facilitate productions of every scale.

“We were all thrilled to welcome back director Jonathan Teplitzky to the region for the filming of Churchill. The film is a terrific showcase of the diversity in locations the region has to offer.”