Michael Caton-Jones drama Urban Hymn underway in London

Shoot is underway in London on Michael Caton-Jones drama Urban Hymn, Nick Moorcroft’s (St. Trinian’s) script about the relationship between a young female offender and a determined social worker during the 2011 UK summer riots.

Shirley Henderson (Southcliffe) will star opposite Screen Star of Tomorrow Letitia Wright (Top Boy, My Brother The Devil) and Isabella Laughland (Now Is Good).

Additional cast includes Ian Hart, Steven Mackintosh and musician and activist Billy Bragg.

The coming of age story set in south-west London follows a wayward teen with a talent for singing who becomes torn between her loyalties towards an inspiring, unconventional care worker and her possessive and volatile best friend.

Caton-Jones commented: “I’m tremendously excited with the potential of Urban Hymn. Nick Moorcroft’s heartbreakingly beautiful screenplay perfectly captures a tale of hope and humanity and examines the transcendental nature of music in a cold and cruel world.”

The film will be the Rob Roy director’s first since his 2006 sequel to Basic Instinct.

Executive producers Anwar Kawadri and Ibrahim Dashishah have fully financed the project through their recently formed Swiss-based company Dashishah Global Film Production.

Producers are Dashishah Global Film Production and Eclipse Films in association with Powderkeg Pictures. Metro International will handle international sales.

Andrew Berg, Neil Chordia and John Sachs are producing for Eclipse. Daniel Toland, Eclipse’s Brian Berg and Powderkeg’s Meg Leonard and Nick Moorcroft also serve as executive producers.

Recent Screen Star of Tomorrow Laura Tarrant Brown is production designer.