True Brit Entertainment Announces The UK Acquisition And Release Of Anand Tucker’s British Feature Film THE CRITIC

Based on Anthony Quinn’s novel Curtain Call, The Critic is adapted by Oscar nominee Patrick Marber (“Notes on a Scandal”) and directed by Anand Tucker (“Shopgirl”).

The film’s all star cast includes Sir Ian McKellen, Gemma Arterton, Ben Barnes, Alfred Enoch, Romola Garai, Lesley Manville, Nikesh Patel and Mark Strong.

True Brit Entertainment, the recently launched theatrical distributor of British films founded by Zygi Kamasa, today announces it has picked up The Critic for a wide UK theatrical release in Autumn 2024. It is the third title to be revealed since True Brit launched in November with previously announced films including Nick Love’s Marching Powder and Gurinder Chadha’s Christmas Karma.

The Critic is a thrilling story of ambition, blackmail, and desire with a dazzling anti-hero at its dark heart. The screenplay has been adapted by award-winning Patrick Marber (Closer, Notes on a Scandal) and the film is directed by Anand Tucker (Hilary & Jackie, Leap Year). The film is produced by Jolyon Symonds for Fearless Minds and Bill Kenwright’s BK Studios.

The film stars Sir Ian McKellen (The Lord of the Rings, X-Men), Gemma Arterton (The King’s Man, Funny Woman), Ben Barnes (Shadow and Bone), Alfred Enoch (How To Get Away With Murder, The Couple Next Door) , Romola Garai (One Life, Scoop), Lesley Manville (Phantom Thread, Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris), Nikish Patel (Starstruck, The Devil’s Hour) and Mark Strong (1917, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) amongst others.

Jimmy Erskine (Ian McKellen) is the most feared theatre critic of the age.  His newspaper’s new owner, David Brooke (Mark Strong), stands for patriotism and family values.  It’s not long before Brooke fires Erskine for his outrageous behaviour and opinions, in particular a savage review of actress Nina Land (Gemma Arterton).  Erskine picks up on this cue and exploits the opportunity to get his job back.  He writes a glowing review for Nina, promises her a glittering career, but in return she must do him a favour which has devastating consequences.   

True Brit Entertainment Founder, Zygi Kamasa commented “I set up True Brit Entertainment to celebrate British filmmaking, and in ‘The Critic’, Anand Tucker and the producers have assembled an all-star cast for this wonderful period drama, set in the heart of the 1930s West End.” 

David Gilbery, CEO of BK studios added “Following its premiere at TIFF last year, we’ve continued to work on the film to really honour the wonderful performances of our stellar cast. I’m thrilled to be partnering with True Brit Entertainment  for this upcoming release of ‘The Critic’, and can’t wait for audiences to see the film when it arrives in cinemas later this year”.

Further credits:

About True Brit Entertainment
True Brit Entertainment is a leading British film distributor that specialises in acquiring UK rights for theatrical release and exploiting them fully within the UK.  

Funding for the new company was led by powerhouse talent management and entertainment company Three Six Zero. Three Six Zero is at the forefront of the music, film, television, sport and digital content landscape, and represents a broad collective of global talent, including Calvin Harris, WILLOW, Majid Jordan, Jaden Smith and more. 

True Brit was founded by veteran film Executive Zygi Kamasa, who has been a leading proponent of investment in British independent film and television for over 25 years. 

The company’s slate includes ‘Marching Powder’, from writer-director Nick Love starring Danny Dyer, who featured in their previous collaborations such as ‘The Football Factory’, ‘Outlaw’ and ‘The Business’. Principle photography started in January 2024. The second announced release is Gurinder Chadha’s ‘Karma’, shooting in March 2024. The film is a Bollywood Christmas feature set in London, inspired by A Christmas Carol and reuniting producer Zygi Kamasa with the ‘Bend it Like Beckham’ director Chadha. The music will be created by Gary Barlow. 

Prior to True Brit, Zygi has shepherded the financing of over 50 British films but has led the theatrical release of over 300 films within the UK, including blockbusters from ‘The Hunger Games’ to ‘La La Land’. 

British films Zygi has Executive produced have also garnered multiple BAFTA and Oscar nominations including ‘Brooklyn’, starring Saoirse Ronan, ‘The Railway Man’, starring Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman, ‘The Father’ starring Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman and ‘Films Stars Don’t Die In Liverpool’ starring Annette Bening and Jamie Bell. 

About Anand Tucker
Anand Tucker is an award-winning Director, Producer and Writer. Notable works include ‘Hilary and Jackie’ which won him the BIFA Best Director Award and was called ‘one of the best British films of the decade’ by The Sunday Times. Along with ‘Girl With a Pearl Earring’, which starred Scarlett Johansson and Colin Firth, and was nominated for a BIFA for Best Achievement in Production, a BAFTA for Best British Film, and a host of Academy Awards.

About BK Studios
BK Studios was established in 2021 by west end theatre and film producer Bill Kenwright and producer / financier David Gilbery. Aside from ‘The Critic’, the company’s other productions include ‘Eternal Return’ starring Kit Harrington and Naomi Scott, ‘Hamlet’ starring Ian McKellen, Destry Allyn Spielberg’s directorial debut ‘Please Don’t Feed The Children’ starring Michelle Dockery, ‘Long Day’s Journey Into Night’ starring Jessica Lange and Ed Harris, ‘My Sister’s Bones’ starring Olga Kurylenko and Anna Friel, ‘The Shepherd’ starring John Travolta, ‘The Kill Room’ starring Samuel L Jackson and Uma Thurman, and dystopian thriller ‘Year 10’.

About Fearless Minds
Set up by Jolyon Symonds in May 2017 as a joint venture with Banijay, the company aims to develop and produce distinctive, original stories for the British and International market working closely with writers and directors to support their vision and creativity.

Fearless Minds made its first show Soulmates created by Brett Goldstein (Ted Lasso) and Will Bridges (Black Mirror) and starring Kingsley Ben-Adir, Sarah Snook and Bill Skarsgard for AMC and Amazon Studios. 

Symonds has previously produced award winning drama and feature films including the Thorne series for Sky, the BAFTA winning drama Complicit for Channel 4, box office hit Kevin and Perry Go Large and The Driver for the BBC.  He ran On The Corner where company credits included the Oscar and Bafta winning film Amy.