Urban explorers snooping around a mine claim to have stumbled on an abandoned set for Marvel’s upcoming Fantastic Four movie.
The two friends – who don’t want to be named – entered Middleton mine in the Derbyshire Dales after they spotted the ‘entrance was open’.
Plunging almost 1,000ft underground, with close to five miles of tunnels, the explorers say they found a Marvel film set hidden in its depths.
Inside the mine is a retro blue and white American bus, stage and a lift car. There is also an abandoned caravan and lighting plan.
The pair claims ‘two people who helped support the staff and actors’ on a Marvel film said it was left behind after the filming of the soon-to-be-released The Fantastic Four: First Steps reboot, starring Gladiator II star, Pedro Pascal.
The network of tunnels was also reportedly used by Tom Cruise in March for the latest Mission Impossible movie.
One of the explorers said: ‘The mine once had huge concrete blocks over the entrance but I was hiking and noticed they’d been removed. It was unbelievable – incredible.
Urban explorers claim to have found a film set hidden deep underground in a mine in Derbyshire
The pair entered Middleton mine in the Derbyshire Dales after they spotted the ‘entrance was open’. They found this retro bus hidden inside
Pictured is a poster released by Marvel announcing the new cast of the upcoming Fantastic Four film
‘I usually like to find interesting artefacts, but I’ve not found a film set before.
‘We were walking along with our torches and we suddenly found this area all built up and an old American bus just sitting there.
‘The lighting rigs were there on scaffolding and a map of where they wanted all the lights to be.
‘It’s very bizarre to see an elevator car just sitting in the middle of a roadway, and a stage in front of the bus.
‘There was all sorts of machinery they had used to set up, and a cabin with a microwave and kettle.
‘There were all sorts of pipes they’d used to keep the air clean – there’s a risk of radon gas down there.
‘It was quite something to see the film set – it wasn’t what we had expected at all.
‘I believe they filmed for Lord of The Rings in there and also Mission Impossible.’
Inside the mine, explorers filmed caravans that appeared abandoned in the tunnels
There was a lighting map which was reportedly left inside the mine alongside equipment and scaffolding
The tunnels were also reportedly the filming location of the latest Mission Impossible film
A retro, blue and white bus, was parked up on the alleged film set, the explorers claimed
Equipment was also left inside the tunnel, which used to be a huge mine
The pair spent four hours checking out both mines.
He said: ‘Some of the lead mine tunnels are quite scary.’
The Fantastic Four: First Steps, is the third attempt at bringing Marvel’s first family to screen, following previous incarnations in 2005 and 2007 and a reboot in 2015.
The film features The Mandalorian star Pedro Pascal, 49, as scientist Reed Richards/Mr Fantastic, The Crown and Mission Impossible: Fallout star Vanessa Kirby, 36, as Sue Storm, Gladiator II actor Joseph Quinn, 30, as Johnny Storm and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, 47, as Ben Grimm/The Thing.
Scheduled for release on July 25, 2025, little is known about the film, which will feature as part of the wider Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Pictured are the cast members of the new Fantastic Four film, set for release in July 2025 (left to right: Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Joseph Quinn, Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby at the 2024 San Diego International Comic-Con on July 27, 2024 in San Diego)
In 2005, the first big-screen adaptation of Fantastic Four debuted, starring Ioan Gruffudd as Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic, a role he reprised in the 2007 sequel, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
After a prolonged hiatus, 20th Century Fox attempted to revive the franchise in 2015 with a reboot that featured Miles Teller as Mr. Fantastic, Kate Mara as Invisible Girl, Michael B. Jordan as The Human Torch, and Jamie Bell as The Thing
However, IMDB – the Internet Movie Database – teases the plot by saying: ‘Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world. [The film follows] Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm as they face their most daunting challenge yet.
‘Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner).
‘And if Galactus’ plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it weren’t bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal.’
MailOnline has approached Disney for comment.