THE city will be transformed into a Hollywood playground as yet another blockbuster is filmed in the county.
Filming for Transformers 5: The Last Knight is set to cause a scene in Oxford from tomorrow until Sunday, with many of its iconic buildings set to make it onto the big screen.
Blenheim Palace has hosted James Bond film Spectre, the BFG and Cinderella in recent years but the city centre itself has been somewhat starved of A-list action – apart from Endeavour of course – since Harry Potter was last filmed here in 2005.
The Duke of Marlborough's estate near Woodstock was used in filming yesterday for director Michael Bay's blockbuster but the Radcliffe Square and Lincoln College are also set to feature in the Paramount Picture movie due to be released in June 2017.
The county's main tourism body Experience Oxfordshire said it "sparks curiosity" about Oxford across the globe and was great for the area.
Head of marketing and development Martin Walker said: "If you look at the number of films and series filmed in the city, such as Inspector Morse and Endeavour, it does a great job of getting the location out there.
"It sparks the curiosity and takes that location in Oxfordshire straight into people’s living rooms.
"People want to know where these films and series are filmed after seeing what a beautiful place Oxfordshire is – it raises awareness and is a great way in for us."
The company offers tours taking people around the buildings and backdrops commonly used on the big screen, including Christ Church College, New College and the Divinity School, which all featured in Harry Potter.
From Friday at 6am to Sunday at 11pm scenes from the new Transformers film will be shot in and around Radcliffe Square.
On Friday traffic will be intermittently held for up to three minutes along Turl Street, High Street and Catte Street so the crew can film driving scenes.
On Sunday a there will be a full road closure in place along Broad Street, Catte Street, Holywell Street, New College Lane and the southern part of Parks Road – pedestrian access will be maintained at all times.
There will also be intermittent traffic hold-ups in Turl Street.
The company behind the film – High Command Production – are also in talks with the Civil Aviation Authority to gain permission to fly a helicopter at 200ft from any building in the filming area.
Avid Endeavour follower Julia Atkinson, who owns cupcake company Happy Cakes in Summertown, was chuffed the city would get a chance to show off its beauty once again and said it was great for business despite the road closures.
She said: "It is almost like a free advert for people to see how beautiful the city is.
"It must bring in so much extra business, for example on the set of Endeavour we were told there were 85 crews members there for the few days of filming.
"That in itself will have a positive impact on hotels and business, it is great."
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