EXCLUSIVE: Ben Whishaw and Peter Mullan will star in Tom Stuart’s feature directorial debut Night Swimming, as the UK’s Bankside Films prepares to launch sales at Cannes.
The drama is about a man who tracks down his late father’s secret gay lover to discover a warm, complex man. Their burgeoning relationship begins to unravel his sense of the past, pushing him to the limits of his own sexuality.
Night Swimming is set to shoot in the UK in January 2027. UK producers are Elettra Pizzi for 130 Elektra Films alongside Whishaw and Stuart for their nascent company Otto Films. It is being executive produced by Vaughan Sivell of Western Edge Pictures and Robert Taylor of The Development Partnership.
UK filmmaker Stuart’s first feature film as a writer was Venice 2020 world premiere, Mainstream, co-written and directed by Gia Coppola. His short Good Boy, also starring Whishaw, was shortlisted for the Oscar for best live action short in 2024.
Whishaw’s acting credits include Paddington and Passages, while Mullan’s include I Swear.
“I’m thrilled to be making my feature debut with this story about love, shame, and forgiveness,” said Stuart. “I’ve found my dream cast in Ben Whishaw and Peter Mullan. They are actors of exceptional skill and will be working together here for the first time, I cannot wait to see them share the screen.”
“As producers, we’re drawn to this story that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant,” added the producers. “Tom Stuart’s compelling debut signals a bold new voice in an era of indie success. We set out to create something intimate, cinematic and truthful, and are confident it will connect deeply with audiences.”
“We were immediately taken with Tom’s screenplay, which explores sexuality and acceptance in such a surprising way,” noted Bankside Films’ managing director Stephen Kelliher. “ Ben Whishaw and Peter Mullan will bring this unexpected yet deeply human story to life in a way which is set to leave audiences captivated.”
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