JACKDAW

Source: Anton Productions

‘Jackdaw’

UK outfit Anton has released a first-look image of action thriller Jackdaw, starring Oliver Jackson-Cohen and Jenna Coleman, and will launch the feature at the upcoming EFM.

It marks the debut feature of writer-director Jamie Childs, whose TV credits include Disney+’s Willow, Netflix’s The Sandman and BBC/HBO adaptation His Dark Materials.

Jackdaw is set over the course of a single night and follows a broke former motocross champion and army veteran – played by Emily star Jackson-Cohen – who agrees to pick-up a mysterious package in the North Sea, with disastrous consequences for himself and his brother.

The Hartlepool-set thriller has wrapped production after filming on the north east coast of England.

It is produced by Anton founder and CEO Sebastien Raybaud and in-house Anton producer Callum Grant, Kate Glover and Childs. Anton fully financed the feature with the support of North East Screen.

Further cast includes Thomas Turgoose, Allan Mustafa, Rory McCann, Vivienne Acheampong, Joe Blakemore and Leon Harrop. Co-star Coleman is known for her roles in Doctor Who, period drama Victoria, BBC-Netflix miniseries The Serpent and fantasy drama The Sandman.

“Like Ridley and Tony Scott, Jamie grew up in the post-industrial heartland of this film and we are paying homage to their early work in Jackdaw,” said producer Grant.As an action piece, it will take audiences somewhere they haven’t been in contemporary British cinema.”

“We see so many American films set in atmospheric towns that don’t tie themselves to local, kitchen-sink stories,” added Childs. “I thought, why don’t we do this in Britain? We set out to push the envelope of what was possible stylistically and tonally in the region. Its clash of pastoral and industrial worlds is the perfect setting for an exciting, pulpy chase thriller.”