Hollywood chooses Tenerife for epic remake

The island of Tenerife has been chosen as a film base for a Hollywood remake of the action packed epic, “Clash of the Titans,” using the stunning volcanic Teide National Park as a key location site.

Originally filmed in 1981, the iconic battle between the Gods Zeus and Hades is based on the Greek myth of Perseus and his quest to save the Princess Andromeda. The film is due to be released in March 2010 and the international cast includes Sam Worthington as Perseus, the mortal son of Zeus, Liam Neeson as the mighty Zeus, King of the Gods, and Ralph Fiennes as Hades, god of the underworld.

Warner Bros Pictures is currently building a set on the island to film nearly 20 per cent of the scenes. Additional locations include the Icod de los Vinos, Buenavista del Norte and Guía de Isora, as well as many of the island’s mountainous areas. From 15 May to 3 June a 350-strong production team will arrive to start work on the film, generating an estimated two and a half million Euros in revenue for the island. Approximately one hundred local people will be hired as extras for various scenes and locally based, Sur Production & Services, will assist as a production service company.

“Clash of the Titans” location manager, Robin Higgs, who has worked on films such as “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Harry Potter” found Tenerife’s landscape perfect for many of the film’s dramatic scenes. José Manuel Bermúdez, the First Vice President and Councillor for Tourism at the Tenerife Island Government, says, “Our diverse landscape, topography and balmy climate make it an ideal choice, particularly for many of the adventure scenes”.

The film is being directed by Louis Leterrier, who also directed “The Incredible Hulk” and additional starring roles are played by Gemma Arterton (“Quantum of Solace”) as Io, Mads Mikkelsen (“Casino Royale”) as Draco, Jason Flemyng (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) as Acrisius, and Alexa Davalos (“Defiance”) as Andromeda.

Tenerife has a surprising selection of landscapes and microclimates that have consistently attracted worldwide film producers and photographers. Contrasts such as subtropical forests, volcanic deserts, a snow-capped mountain, black and golden sands, and year-round sunshine, are just a few of the aspects that draw professionals and visitors to the island.

Other international companies that have filmed in Tenerife include Toyota Lexus, Avensis, Lamborghini, BMW, Hyundai, Play Station 3, Daily Telegraph and Wallpaper. In addition to this, James Blunt also used the stunning scenery in the Teide National Park for a music video clip in 2004.

To find out more about Tenerife, log on to webtenerife.com.