Hollywood arrives in Gwynedd and Conwy as James Cosmo spotted filming The Three Musketeers

Richard Evans, local democracy reporter

All for one and one for all! Hollywood has arrived in the north of Wales!

Game of Thrones star James Cosmo, who played Jeor Mormont, has been spotted in full costume and make-up, filming a new adaption of The Three Musketeers.

The cast and crew have been filming action scenes with stuntmen featuring large explosions in and around the Conwy Valley.

After filming in Penmachno and Betws y Coed woods over the last two weeks, the crew spent a day filming at Gwydir Castle in Llanrwst. The crew is now understood to be filming indoor scenes in a large barn on the Faenol Estate in Gwynedd.

The historical action movie is reported to have a small to medium budget of around $65,000,000. Although little is known about the film, it’s believed the movie is scheduled for release at the end of 2023.

“James Cosmo was filming yesterday. I’m not a Game of Thrones fan, so I didn’t know him, but I recognised him from The Professionals in the 1970s,” a source revealed.

“But the rest of the actors are up and coming young people. They were dressed in cloaks and big hats, and every now and again, they had actors playing the King’s Guard with helmets and costumes.

“They were ferried by minibus. But there was also a documentary being filmed nearby too. I think the Londis shop in Penmachno has been busy the last couple of weeks, as it is the only shop within miles.

“They are filming up in the Faenol now. That is the only indoor filming they’ve been doing. They’ve been in the woods and forests around Betws y Coed.

“The stuntmen were up at the riding stables just above Penmachno. In the morning the four stuntmen take the four horses out, obviously dressed as musketeers, and they go up and do the stunts the actual actors don’t do.

“There were a couple of explosions going on, and there were paramedics on site. So whatever they were doing had an element of risk involved.

“They looked fantastic. They went to Gwydir Castle the day before yesterday. I think that’s where the more regal scenes were filmed.”

A film crew’s presence in Penmachno was also confirmed by a Conwy County Council roadworks bulletin, warning of delays this week on Llewelyn Street, Penmachno.