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After viewing a shot of the set that was published on social media, an industry source remarked that it was similar in scope to a major motion picture production.

If this promo was intended to welcome the international film community to Malta, Grech should explain why he chose to play a role in the film himself, instead of hiring a professional Maltese actor.

 

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The 10-minute film, Once Upon A Time In Malta, was aired at the recent Mediterrane Film Festival. It features Grech giving Walliams a trophy and telling him to be careful with it. Walliams ends up in a wormhole, travels back in time to the days of the Knights of St John, loses the trophy, and embarks on a quest to retrieve it.

The crew seems to have been composed of foreign team members, including British director James Nunn, whose films include One Shot and One More Shot. This would be somewhat ironic seeing as it was filmed by the Malta Film Commission for a Maltese film festival.

Photos indicate the crew used very professional equipment, including ARRI Alexa 35 cameras that retail upwards of €100,000.

 

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It appears to have been a week-long shoot and was filmed in multiple locations, including Fort Ricasoli and Manoel Island.

Although the Times of Malta reported that the production cost around €500,000, industry sources who spoke to Lovin Malta said this is a “very conservative” estimate and the shoot likely cost much more.

Walliams was paid €120,000 to host the Malta Film Awards in 2022. If he was paid that much for a single night, it must be questioned how much he stood to earn for a week-long production.