‘Peaky Blinders’ Star Joe Cole To Lead Las Vegas Action-Thriller ‘He Bled Neon’ For Director Drew Kirsch

XYZ Films announced today that actor Joe Cole, known for the BBC gangster series, “Peaky Blinders,” has landed the lead role in the upcoming action thriller “He Bled Neon.” The film’s director is Drew Kirsch, and Grammy-nominated musician Zhu is composing the score in collaboration with Joseph Trapanese (“The Greatest Showman,” “Straight Outta Compton“). Production is set to start later this year.

Cole will play a character grieving the death of his estranged brother and navigating the criminal underworld of Las Vegas to get answers. It’s a cinematic setting that is known for its various legitimate business and mob-connected figures operating in the city of sin that features an underbelly of crime.  

Here’s the admittedly not-more-much-more-specific official synopsis:

“After his estranged brother’s mysterious death, Ethan’s (Joe Cole) journey to Las Vegas for the funeral unravels a dark web of crime, forcing him to confront his past as he delves into the city’s gritty underworld to uncover the truth, risking everything he holds dear in the process.”

Cole’s previous credits include “Black Mirror,” “Peaky Blinders,” “A Small Light,” the Neo-Nazi thriller “Green Room,” “Nightsleeper,” and the ongoing British crime series “Gangs of London.” Seeing Cole step up to leading man status is an intriguing prospect, as he’s been bubbling on the verge for years now. We’ll be curious if the project can keep up with the recent string of inventive action movies made in the shadow of giants like “John Wick.“

Kirsch is likely best known for his music video works and, specifically, his collaborations with mega-star Taylor Swift (co-directing videos such as “Lover” and “You Need To Calm Down” with the pop star) Kirsch has also directed popular music videos for YG, Machine Gun Kelly, John Legend, and Imagine Dragons. This new project will mark the director’s first feature film, and we expect “He Bled Neon” to have some striking visuals, given Kirsch’s vibrant and dynamic music videos.

XYZ Films will handle global sales for the new thriller ahead of the upcoming Cannes Film Market, with WME Independent co-repping the domestic side of the distribution. Check out some of his work below.