Operation Fortitude was blocked from filming after producers ‘abruptly’ asked to move the shoot from October to 15th September, leaving the council unable to consult with local residents about Nazi flags, reports Sebastian Mann, Local Democracy Reporter

Plans to film a Nicolas Cage war film at Waltham Forest Town Hall fell through over fears about Nazi iconography.

The shoot for the upcoming movie Fortitude would have involved draping the building in flags bearing the swastika.

The film tells the story of 1944 Operation Fortitude undertaken by the Allied Forces to mislead Nazi Germany about the nature and timings of D-Day, the storming of Normandy.

Waltham Forest Council agreed to the project under the provisos the production team – Operation Fortitude Ltd – would consult with nearby residents and ensure “Nazi-era flags and symbols were not publicly visible”.

As reported in London Centric, when the production was “abruptly” brought forward from October to 15th September, the council felt there had not been enough time to discuss the situation with locals.

A spokesperson for the council said: “We were very disappointed when the shoot was abruptly brought forward from October to 15th September, preventing the level of consultation previously discussed, and that letters had been sent to the community by the location team stating explicitly that Nazi symbols would be highly visible during the shoot.

“Because of these significant changes that did not honour our agreed conditions, and given the high level of sensitivity to far-right iconography, we felt we had no other choice than to refuse permission.”

“The council has a longstanding and positive relationship with the film and television industries,” the spokesperson added.

“We have been immensely proud to have hosted several high-profile shoots over the years. We will do all we can to contribute to the enormous success of the capital as a sought-after location for filming and production.”

In August – when the production company first approached the council – a nationwide campaign to hang the Union and St George flags in public places was launched.

Though supporters of Raise the Colours say it represents national pride, critics have raised concerns about potential links to far-right causes.

No filming permit was ever granted, and the council did not collect any fee for the proposed filming and no compensation was offered to or requested by the filmmakers.

The decision to cancel the shoot was made without the input of the Department of Culture.

In the end, production went ahead in Greenwich’s Old Royal Naval College, which has been used by blockbuster films including Jurassic World and Napoleon.

The town hall and Fellowship Square have also been used in several high-profile shoots in recent years, including the production of the Emmy-winning Apple drama Slow Horses.

Elsewhere in the borough, ASDA and Argos shot their 2025 Christmas adverts in Walthamstow Village, while pop singer Raye this week shut a local street down to shoot a new music video.

According to the council’s film booking office, a full day’s shoot with a crew of more than 50 people can cost over £22,000, while it would cost a team of five £2,045 for the same time.

Producers for Fortitude did not respond to a request for comment.

Additional reporting by Marco Marcelline

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