Filmed in Bulgaria (soon): WestEnd Films’ “Scorpion” Begins Production
Published: 11.02.2026
Reading time: 2.7 minutes
As Screendaily announced on February 10, Alex Pettyfer and Clive Owen are set to star in Scorpion — a high-stakes action thriller directed by Australian filmmaker Richard Hughes. Global sales are launching at the European Film Market. (screendaily.com)
PLOT: Scorpion follows a young police officer on his first mission with an elite tactical unit made up of Afghanistan veterans. During a nighttime raid on a remote farmhouse, the operation turns deadly. Cut off from all communication and trapped inside, the squad is confronted by a sinister voice issuing an ultimatum: every 30 minutes someone will die unless one of them confesses to actions taken during a classified operation in Afghanistan years ago.
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Production is due to begin in April in the UK, Bulgaria, and Cyprus. The decision to shoot significant portions in Bulgaria is notable. The project will most likely utilize Nu Boyana Studios, one of Europe’s largest production facilities, for both studio work and on-location sequences, underscoring the country’s growing reputation as a full-service production hub.
The film reunites WestEnd Films with U.S. producer Jib Polhemus, following their collaboration on Zealot. Additional producers include Patrick Hughes, director of The Hitman’s Bodyguard franchise, Greg McLean for Australia’s Huge Film, and Yariv Lerner, alongside Hannah Leader. Alex Pettyfer and James Ireland also produce through U.S. company Dark Dreams Entertainment, with Matt Murphie, Luke Bouchier, and David Mansfield from Cyprus-based Copper Island. Michael Lawrence serves as executive producer.
Richard Hughes, whose credits include the 2022 action thriller The Enforcer starring Antonio Banderas, co-wrote the script with Bennett Fisher. Hughes described Scorpion as “a relentless, claustrophobic thriller that blends the brutal realism of a tactical police drama with the psychological intensity of a revenge-driven horror film. I want to explore a morally ambiguous world where loyalty and guilt collide. At its core, Scorpion asks whether justice and revenge can ever truly be separated.”
Maya Amsellem, managing director of WestEnd Films, added that pairing Owen and Pettyfer on screen will “add both intensity and emotional complexity to this story.”
For Bulgaria’s film industry, Scorpion is significant beyond its star power. The use of Nu Boyana Studios and the collaboration with producers like Yariv Lerner highlight how international productions are increasingly treating Bulgaria as a strategic production partner, not just a temporary location. Local crews, technical staff, and actors will be integrated into the production in a way that builds experience and visibility in high-profile international filmmaking.
From the perspective of TalentNews, this development underscores the momentum in Bulgaria’s film sector. As major productions make early commitments to Bulgarian infrastructure and talent, local actors have the opportunity to audition, work, and network within a fully international set environment. TalentVision welcomes Scorpion’s decision to film extensively in Bulgaria and we are open for collaboration on local casting of talent in both cast and crew.
TalentVision also expresses gratitude to all producers and creatives involved for their trust in Bulgaria’s growing creative ecosystem and looks forward to sharing more opportunities with local talent later this year.
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