Cynthia Erivo’s upcoming film has just completed principal photography, and the supporting cast has been announced.
As Variety reported that Erivo is starring in the legal drama, Prima Facie. Based on Suzie Miller’s one-woman play starring Jodie Comer on stage, Prima Facie follows attorney Tessa Ensler, who has done the hard work of rising from the English working class to become one of the bright lights of the London bar. She’s described in the official description as being “formidable in her defence of men accused of sexual assault. But just as her career seems to be taking off, she as to make a decision which will put her love of law in conflict with her personal need to fight for justice.”
Who else stars in ‘Prima Facie’?
The film also stars Daniel Ings, Elizabeth Dulau, Noma Dumezweni, Toheeb Jimoh, Harry Treadaway, Sarah Junillon, Elliot Levey and Simon Russell Beale. Miller serves as screenwriter, basing the script on her play. Susanna White directs.
Erivo and Solome Williams executive produce via Edith’s Daughter. Fellow executive producers include Miller, White, Camelback Productions’ Anita Verma-Lallian, Minderoo Pictures’ Malinda Wink, Alpha Film and Television’s Jon Hamm and Zack Sherman and CML Entertainment Finance’s Andrew Low. Producers include Bunya Productions’ Greer Simpkin and David Jowsey produce with Embankment’s Kevin Loader.
Cynthia Erivo on bringing ‘Prima Facie’ to film
Erivo released a statement about starring in the film, saying how thrilled she is to bring Prima Facie to film.
“As an actor and executive producer, it means so much to be part of the team bringing Suzie Miller’s indelible Prima Facie from stage to screen,” she said. “Prima Facie is the manifestation of years of dreaming and putting the right pieces together to create that perfect spark.”
“It has been a privilege to work with this crew and creative team whose collective contributions will inevitably affect the larger cultural impact of this film,” she continued. “Tessa Ensler’s story is that of so many and my hope is it reaches the furthest corners and cultivates conversations that help us understand and empathize with one another in ways that are especially needed for these times.”
Miller also said via a statement how it has been to expand her one-woman play into a story that works on film.
“Watching the realisation of my one-woman play bloom into this multi-dimensional extraordinary film material with all the characters coming to life, has blown my mind,” she said. “Adding a new layer to the story means Prima Facie will speak to all women and ignite even further conversations. Cynthia Erivo has inhabited Tessa and made her completely her own. She is an actress at the pinnacle of her talent, and we look forward to sparking change.”
White also added how she felt drawn to Prime Facie after reading the play while in Australia. She said how she “was immediately captivated by Suzie’s blend of mission and fabulous sense of humor.”
“The challenge for me was taking a brilliant stage monologue and turning it into a powerful piece of cinema, taking the ideas and exploring the narrative visually,” she said. “I wanted this important story, which affects one in three women, to spark conversation and stay with audiences long after they leave the cinema.”
Jowsey, Simpkin and Loader also said how they have “the highest hopes” for the film, believing it will “deliver a strong contemporary story and powerful themes.”
“We have captured the cinematic beauty of Autumn in London, with finely nuanced direction by director Susanna White and an astounding lead performance by Cynthia Erivo,” they said. “We can’t wait to share the film with the world.”