You’ll have heard of at least one of the cast
15:33, 01 Dec 2025Updated 15:45, 01 Dec 2025
Hikers and walkers were amused to find that some of their favoured haunts on Dartmoor have become off-limits while a star-studded horror movie is being made.
In October DevonLive reported how planners had given permission for two temporary movie sets to be created near Widecombe in the Moor and Postbridge.
Mega movie producer Universal Studios is behind American director Robert Eggers’ historical thriller ‘Werwulf’ which is set in 13th-century England. Mr Eggers and his creative team were responsible for the Gothic horror film ‘Nosferatu’ released at the end of last year which brought in nearly £180m at the Box Office and was nominated for four Oscars.
The director was also responsible for the 2022 hit The Northman and the 2019 black and white film The Lighthouse, which found favour with critics.
‘Werwulf’ will star Hollywood A-lister Willem Dafoe and Lily-Rose Depp, daughter of Johnny Depp and French singer/actress Vanessa Paradis. It will also feature Golden Globe award winner Aaron Taylor-Johnson, famed for his roles in Kick-Ass, Kraven the Hunter, Bullet Train and 28 Years Later.
Willem Dafoe has been a favoured actor in Robert Eggers’ films (Image: Getty Images)
Richard Taylor shared a clip of Yar Tor he took over the recent weekend, with what appeared to be dozens of vehicles parked up near the tor and activity further up the incline, just visible through the misty conditions.
Taking to the Dartmoor Public Group on Facebook, he noted that there was no access to the tor on Sunday, revealing that security had told him they were filming a new film called Werwulf.
Another poster said the Dartmeer car park on the evening of Thursday November 28 was “rammed with lorries and vans – all lit up with floodlights” adding “same with the car parks towards Poundsgate – all empty on Friday”.
One local revealed there was a base in Chagford “and they are filming at Fernworthy as well”.
Another immediately saw the amusing side of the post, warning “watch sightings of a human-like wolf being reported!”
(Image: Richard Taylor)
During a meeting of Dartmoor National Park Authority’s development management committee, members heard that cast and crew would remain in Dartmoor for around eleven weeks, boosting its economy from hotel stays, restaurant bookings and taxi patronage.
As a result, members unanimously supported temporary use of land to the north of Sharp Tor, Widecombe in the Moor and Assycombe Hill, South of Fernworthy Forest at Postbridge for film-making with associated sets, supporting vehicles, parking, access and storage.
The film sets will involve temporary medieval-style buildings and farmsteads being erected.
Members unanimously supported temporary use of land to the north of Sharp Tor, Widecombe in the Moor and Assycombe Hill, South of Fernworthy Forest at Postbridge for film-making with associated sets, supporting vehicles, parking, access and storage.
(Image: Richard Taylor)
The film sets will involve temporary medieval-style buildings and farmsteads being erected.
Traffic controls will be set up to hold up general traffic for ten-minute periods on the main roads when filming is live, some of which will be after dark, to avoid headlight disturbance.
Filming is usually allowed under permitted development rights but not in national parks or other designated land.
Devon County Council highways, however, had raised an objection and asked for alternative access measures to be put in place for the Sharp Tor location.
Public access to the immediate film set sites will be restricted during their use and security staff will be present at all times but people will still have access to nearby footpaths, they may just be asked to stop for a few minutes whilst the cameras are in motion.
Griffin Dunne and David Naughton in an American Werewolf in London
Officers said approving these applications would be a departure from policy but they were considered acceptable because of their temporary nature and various conditions being met.
Location manager for Mirage Alex Gladstone expressed “sincere” thanks to authorities in Dartmoor and Devon as a whole for allowing them to film there.
He said he only wanted to leave “positive public relations” and would be happy to work with the national park to look at more filming opportunities in the future.
He added that he hoped the film would be as successful as Nosferatu and would attract “creative respect and admiration”.
A spokesperson for Dartmoor National Park Authority told DevonLive: “Filming has been taking place in numerous locations and where necessary it sought planning approval in October by the National Park Authority.
“The filming has now completed, and it is hoped that all the film set will be removed by Christmas.”
Dartmoor was the choice location for a new adaptation of Jane Austin’s ‘Sense and Sensibility’ filmed during the summer and was the background for Steven Spielberg’s ‘War Horse’ and parts of the ‘Harry Potter’ series.