Warner Bros is expanding its Barbie film studios in the UK

The project will see the capacity of the Leavesden facility near London grow by more than 50%.

It will create 4,000 “direct or indirect” jobs across the country, according to the media giant.

Warner Bros. also says the expanded studios will become a major production hub for DC Studios, home of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman.

The company also said the expansion would increase the value of its UK production by £200 million a year, to £600 million.

The announcement came during a visit by Treasurer Jeremy Hunt to Los Angeles.

“Warner Bros Discovery’s ambitious plan to grow its Leavesden studio is a huge vote of confidence in the UK,” he said.

Hunt added that this means that “British-made entertainment will continue to delight and entertain global audiences.”

Construction work on the expansion of the studios, where Harry Potter and House of the Dragon were filmed, is scheduled to begin by summer 2024.

It is expected to be completed in 2027, bringing the number of phases in the facility from 19 to 29.

About 10% of the land earmarked for development is located in the Watford area and the remainder in the Three Rivers area.

Warner Bros. said in its statement that “the expansion plan was developed in close consultation” with both boards “with careful consideration prioritizing sustainability.”

The investment comes as Warner Bros Discovery productions in California have been hit hard by the first joint writers and actors strike in more than six decades.

The strikes delayed major projects and prompted the company to lower its revenue forecast for the rest of the year.