Production is officially underway on Paul Greengrass’ new historical drama “The Uprising,” and the cast just got even stronger. Joining Andrew Garfield and Katherine Waterston in the film are Jamie Bell, Cosmo Jarvis, Thomasin McKenzie, Jonny Lee Miller, and Woody Norman, rounding out what’s shaping up to be one of the most compelling ensembles of the year.
Greengrass — the Academy Award-nominated filmmaker behind “United 93,” “Captain Phillips,” and “22 July” — directs from his own script for Focus Features. Set during the Peasants’ Revolt in 14th-century England, “The Uprising” follows a legendary rebel leader (Garfield) who forges an army of ordinary citizens to rise up against the tyranny of King Richard II. As the war engulfs the countryside, the rebellion becomes a brutal fight for justice, survival, and the nation’s very soul.
Bell, fresh off “Half-Man,” “All of Us Strangers,” and “Rosebush Pruning,” joins alongside Jarvis (“Warfare,” “Shōgun”), McKenzie (“Jojo Rabbit,” “Last Night in Soho”), Miller (“Sepia One,” “Elementary,” “Trainspotting”), and Norman (“Sukkwan Island,” “C’mon C’mon”). The film marks Greengrass’ first collaboration with many of these actors, blending generations of British talent for what promises to be a visceral, politically charged spectacle.
Jason Blum produces through Blumhouse, with Gregory Goodman, Joanna Kaye, and Greengrass also serving as producers. Lars Sylvest produces via Thank You Pictures, and Joe Neurauter through Supernix. Focus Features will distribute the film domestically.
Greengrass’ most recent project, “The Lost Bus,” starring Matthew McConaughey and America Ferrera, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and is now on Apple TV+. “The Uprising” continues his streak of grounded, politically conscious filmmaking on a grand scale — human conflict filtered through chaos and compassion.
Focus Features’ upcoming slate remains stacked with auteur-driven releases, including Chloé Zhao’s “Hamnet,” Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Bugonia,” and “Song Sung Blue,” directed by Craig Brewer and starring Kate Hudson and Hugh Jackman.
