Stars will be heading to King's Lynn to film scenes for a new period blockbuster.
A new all-star cast adaptation of Charles Dickens' David Copperfield will be filmed in the town next month under the directional eye of Alan Partridge creator Armando Iannucci.
The Outer Purfleet next to the Custom House has been drained to sink mooring pilings for a new floating restaurant which is expected to arrive by the end of this month.
The drainage will allow maintenance and repair works to be carried out before the dock is re-filled ahead of filming for scenes of The Personal History of David Copperfield in July.
The modern take of the Dickens classic will include Lion actor Dev Patel as the titular character, with other stars on board including Oscar-winner Tilda Swinton, Hugh Laurie and Ben Whishaw.
Iannucci will once again be working with Doctor Who actor Peter Capaldi, having worked previously with the star on The Thick Of It and In The Loop.
Dickens' semi-autobiographical novel follows protagonist David Copperfield and features several major links to East Anglia - with Copperfield being born in Blundeston and later sent to live in Great Yarmouth.
The medieval quarter of King's Lynn was also the setting for the 1985 movie Revolution, starring Al Pacino, Donald Sutherland, Nastassja Kinski, Robbie Coltrane and Annie Lennox.
Familiar buildings in the Purfleet, King Street and Nelson Street could be spotted in the film, which featured dozens of local people as extras.
But the historical drama film proved to be one the biggest box office flops in movie history.
The King's Lynn riverfront will see a number of new restaurants and bars in a bid to regenerate the area.
A West Norfolk council spokesman said the drainage will also allow preparatory work to begin for a floating restaurant, adding: 'While the stoplocks are being repaired the Purfleet will be tidal.
'The Environment Agency will therefore be closing the flood gates around the Purfleet for safety reasons. These will remain closed for around one month until the stoplocks are replaced.'
Last month, West Norfolk council's planning committee agreed to plans for a floating restaurant beside the historic dock.
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