Captain America finds a tax break haven in London

London is the unlikely choice for filming the latest big budget comic book blockbuster — Captain America.

The Marvel movie about the US superhero will be filmed here after producers decided to keep costs down and take advantage of Britain's tax breaks for the industry.

Captain America: The First Avenger, starring Chris Evans in the title role alongside Samuel L Jackson and Hugo Weaving, is expected to start shooting in the capital in July.

A Marvel spokesman said: "Both the comic books and film version of Captain America are set during the Second World War so it made the most sense for several reasons that the physical production of the film take place in London and around Europe."

It is estimated that without the tax relief system supporting filmmakers, British film production would be reduced by about 75 per cent,cutting GDP by about £1.4 billion a year.