An open letter from the West Midlands
Dear Brad Pitt,
We hear you’re bringing Plan B across the Atlantic. After F1 stormed the global box office, it makes perfect sense to expand into the UK and Europe, where the creative ecosystem is thriving. But before you set up shop in London or elsewhere, allow us to make the case: Birmingham is the place for you.
A city in the middle of it all
Birmingham sits at the very heart of the UK. By train, you’re 80 minutes from London. By air, Birmingham Airport gives you global reach. That makes it easy for your talent, crews and executives to move seamlessly between Los Angeles, London and Europe – without the cost and congestion of the capital.
A workforce ready for Plan B
The region has one of the youngest, most diverse populations in Europe. Our universities and colleges are producing thousands of skilled graduates in film, media, and digital design every year. For Plan B, that means a steady supply of fresh talent, hungry to work on your next big production – and all at a fraction of London prices.
A growing creative hub
This isn’t just about geography. Birmingham is serious about film and television. The West Midlands Combined Authority has put creative industries at the top of its agenda, expanding studio space and backing businesses with incentives.
Digbeth Loc Studios – home to productions by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight – is already putting the city on the global stage, while the BBC’s relocation of key departments to Birmingham underlines the region’s growing influence. Add to that our thriving cultural scene and you’ll find stories, voices and perspectives here that resonate worldwide.
Why Birmingham fits your story
Plan B has always been about bold, authentic storytelling. Birmingham offers the same spirit – a city that’s proud of its heritage yet constantly reinventing itself. Affordable, accessible, and bursting with energy, it’s the perfect base for your UK venture.
So Brad, as you weigh up the options, we say this: London has the headlines, but Birmingham has the heart. And for a storyteller like you, that might just be what matters most.
Yours sincerely,
West Midlands News
