STUDIOCANAL announced today that principal photography has begun on the feature adaptation of Victor Headley’s cult novel Yardie. Directed by Idris Elba.
Golden Globe and SAG winner Idris Elba will make his feature film directorial debut, with Aml Ameen starring in the lead role as ‘D’. Yardie will shoot on location in London and Jamaica for seven weeks.
The principle cast includes Stephen Graham who will play the role of Rico, while Idris Elba will star as Piper. The film will introduce exciting new Jamaican talent including Shantol Jackson as Yvonne, Sheldon Shepherd as King Fox and Everaldo Creary as Jerry Dread.
Idris Elba commented: “I am interested in making human stories with characters that are either, full of grace or flawed. In Yardie the audience will see a film that hopefully means something to the people. I’m honoured to able to shoot it in my home town of London and as a guest in Jamaica.”
Yardie follows the story of a young Jamaican named ‘D’ who arrives in early 1980s London. But on arrival he unexpectedly finds the young man who assassinated his revered brother back in Jamaica ten years before. His quest for justice explodes into a violent street war that could end up killing him and his loved ones.
Yardie has been adapted for the screen by Brock Norman Brock and Martin Stellman. It is produced for Warp Films by Robin Gutch and Gina Carter. Financing has been provided by STUDIOCANAL, BFI, BBC Films and Screen Yorkshire. Universal Music are partners in the film and their Island Records label will be releasing the soundtrack.
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Idris Elba is set to have a huge year with a number of big projects in the pipeline or set for release, including the upcoming sci-fi action thriller The Dark Tower. See the trailer above.
