Film studio used by hit TV show Outlander sold to US investors

A film studio used by the hit TV series Outlander has been sold to US investors.

Wardpark Film and Television Studios in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, has been bought by Hackman Capital Partners and Square Mile Capital Management.

Announcing the news on Wednesday, the studio said its staff will remain unchanged.

The 14-acre campus is the largest and only full-service studio in Scotland. It features five sound stages, production offices, workshops and an external green screen area.

It is currently home to the sixth series of Outlander and all previous seasons have also been filmed there.

Sold: Wardpark Film and Television Studios in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire. Website

Michael Hackman, founder and CEO of Hackman Capital Partners, said: “We’re thrilled to be adding Wardpark Film and Television Studios to our distinguished portfolio and excited to be entering the Scottish production market.

“Wardpark has been a strong catalyst for growth in the country’s creative sector, and Scotland has become an important filming destination for international content creators, thanks in part to its lush landscape and scenery and competitive tax credits, as well as its top talent pool.”

Hackman Capital and its affiliate The MBS Group have 65 studio locations in their portfolio across six countries, including The Culver Studios, Television City Studios, MBS Media Campus, Silvercup Studios and Sony Pictures Animation Studios.

Isabel Davis, executive director of Screen Scotland, said the studio has been a “phenomenal training ground” for the country’s screen sector.

She said: “Wardpark Studios has led the surge in production from Scotland for many years now and remains at the forefront.

“Its success is synonymous with local talent at every level, from the visionary entrepreneurship of Terry Thomson, to the world-class design of the studio itself, and the hundreds of highly skilled people who have worked on Outlander across six seasons.

“It has been, from the start, a phenomenal training ground for scores of new entrants to the valuable and fast-growing Scottish screen sector.

“It’s great to see that Terry’s success story has caught the attention of a global player and we look forward to working with the Hackman Capital Partners, The MBS Group and the Wardpark team in pursuit of further growth for the Scottish film and TV industry.”