EXCLUSIVE: Actors join David Mackenzie’s prison drama starring Jack O’Connell; shoot begins Feb 11.

Homeland star Rupert Friend and Animal Kingdom’s Ben Mendelsohn have joined the cast of David Mackenzie’s prison drama Starred Up, which gets underway in Belfast’s renowned Crumlin Road jail on Feb 11.

For full production details

Independent is handling international sales and will launch the project at EFM.

Skins star Jack O’Connell stars as an explosive and violent teenager who is transferred to an adult prison where he finally meets his match - his father.

Gillian Berrie produces the Film4 presentation in association with Creative Scotland, Quickfire Films, Northern Ireland Screen and Lip Sync Productions.

Mackenzie’s most recent film, Tonight You’re Mine (aka You Instead), was released in the US by Sony and Roadside attractions in May 2012. He was also behind Edinburgh Best Film Winner Perfect Sense, starring Eva Green and Ewan McGregor, which premiered at Sundance in 2011.

Skins star O’Connell most recently played in Tower Block, while Animal Kingdom actor Mendelsohn recently appeared in The Dark Knight Rises and Andrew Dominik’s Killing Them Softly.

Friend most recently appeared in Homeland and has starred in 5 Days of War and The Young Victoria.

Independent’s slate also includes Ralph Steadman doc For No Good Reason, featuring Johnny Depp.