Rising British Stars Kingsley Ben-Adir (“Bob Marley: One Love,” “Barbie”) and Archie Madekwe (“Lurker,” “Saltburn”) team up to lead the cast of “Arrival,” along with Joanna Scanlan (“After Love,” “Joy”) and Alex Descas (“Let the Sunshine In,” “Colors Revolt”).
The film marks the feature directorial debut of award-winning theater director Bijan Sheibani, based on his acclaimed play of the same name, and boasts a host of prestigious producers behind the camera. Michael Fassbender's DMC Film and Home productionwho made “Conclave”. Cornerstone is handling worldwide sales and will launch the project in the American Film Market.
Described as a “harrowing portrayal of identity, obsession and betrayal”, Arrival, which has now wrapped in London after being filmed out of sight across the UK, follows the reunion of two long-lost brothers, Rahim (Madekwe) and Tom (Ben-Adir), as adults. Tom, the eldest of the two, was given up for adoption as an infant. The film explores the “exhilarating and uncanny experience” of meeting a blood brother for the first time as an adult. As the two grow closer, seduced by the idea that their shared history finally makes sense, they are forced to confront the uncomfortable truths at the heart of their family and the impossible decision their parents (Scanlan and Descas) made thirty years ago.
Sheibani is an Olivier Award-winning director, and Arrival marked his theater writing debut. Most recently he directed Till the Stars Fall for the National Theatre, which successfully transferred to the Theater Royal Haymarket. For television, he wrote several episodes of One Day for Netflix. Other notable directorial credits include Dance Nation (Almeida Theatre), Barbershop Chronicles (National Theatre) and Brothers Size (Young Vic).
Arrival was developed by Sheibani in association with Film4 in association with DMC Film (Kneepad, Calm with Horses) and House Productions (Conclave, Iron Claw), who also co-produced the film. It is co-financed by Film4 and the BFI (providing National Lottery funding).
The film is produced by BAFTA Award winner and Emmy nominee Tessa Ross (Conclave, Slumdog Millionaire), Emmy nominee Juliette Howell (Brexit: An Uncivil War, Conclave) and BIFA winner Theo Barrowclough (Scraper, “Mint”) for House Productions. Oscar and BAFTA nominee Fassbender, BIFA and BAFTA nominee Daniel Emmerson and Conor McCaughan are producing the film for DMC Film. Nell Green is also producing the film. David Kimbangi is the executive producer for Film4 and Ama Ampadu is for the BFI. It was filmed in the UK over the summer.
“Having worked with Bijan on his Film4-backed short film Morning Song and throughout the script development process, we are extremely proud to see Arrival come to life,” said David Kimbangi, Film4 Senior Executive Director. “The caliber of the cast and crew who worked on the film is testament to Bijan’s undeniable writing skills, his reputation in the theater and it has been a pleasure to collaborate with him, Theo Barrowclough and our partners at the BFI.”
Ampadu, Senior Executive Director, Production and Development, BFI, said: “In Arrival, Bijan Sheibani brings his unique voice and style to create a film that artfully explores issues of identity and paths less traveled. Following his success in the theatre, and based on the play of the same name, Bijan and his producer Theo Barrowclough have assembled a fantastic team and a stunning cast led by Archie Madekwe and Kingsley Ben-Adir to deliver a thrilling, vibrant and heartfelt debut feature.”
