EXCLUSIVE: Production is underway in London on crime thriller sequel Villain: The Next Chapter, with Vertigo Releasing acquiring UK distribution rights ahead of a theatrical release.
The film is the directorial debut of Neil Linpow, from a screenplay by Greg Hall and George Russo. It is produced by Ian Sharp, Jason Maza and Allan Niblo, with James Fuller co-producing.
Craig Fairbrass returns to lead the cast as Eddie Franks, a former criminal trying to leave his old life behind, who discovers that the past isn’t finished with him. David O’Hara, Percelle Ascott, Frederick Schmidt and Francis Mcgee are alongside Fairbrass on the cast.
It is a Sharp House Entertainment production, in association with Vertigo Releasing and Impact Entertainment. Executive producers are David Wade, Andrew Low, Pat Wintersgill, Rebecca Sharp, Jane Moore, Nathalie Peter-Contesse and Craig Fairbrass. Double Dutch International handles international sales on the film.
The film is a sequel to 2020’s Villain, directed by Philip Barantini.
“The first film meant a great deal to me, it was one of those rare ones where everybody turned up for the right reasons,” said Fairbrass. “But I always felt we’d left something on the table with Eddie. Audiences have been asking for years, and they deserve the rest of it. Neil’s got a real handle on this, Greg and George have written him beautifully again, and I’m proud to be back.”
“The exceptional first film found its audience because people believed in the character Eddie Franks,” said a statement from Ian Sharp and Maza. “This one asks a lot more of him, and a lot more of the production. We’ve got a bigger canvas, a brilliant cast and a director who knows exactly what he wants. Having Vertigo Releasing behind it in the UK means it lands with the team who understand this film and its passionate audience.”
“We’re building from the strong foundations of the first film, and having Craig Fairbrass back as Eddie Franks gives us the perfect anchor to expand the scope of his world for a wider, international audience,” said Linpow.
“Villain has hugely resonated with audiences and we’re thrilled to be back on board for the sequel and bringing it to UK fans and audiences in 2027,” said Vertigo Releasing CEO Rupert Preston.
No comments yet