Cast for the Cuba Pictures project, backed by BBC Films, includes Tim Roth, Cillian Murphy, and Rory Kinnear.

Experienced theatre director Rufus Norris will start shooting his debut feature film Broken on Oct 17.

The film, produced by Cuba Pictures, will shoot for five weeks in the UK. BBC Films, the BFI Film Fund, Lip Sync and Bill Kenwright Ltd. are also backing. The project was developed at BBC Films.

Mark O’Rowe has adapted the screenplay from Daniel Clay.

The cast features Tim Roth, Cillian Murphy, Rory Kinnear, Robert Emms, Zana Marjanovic, Bill Milner and newcomer Eloise Laurence.

Producers are Dixie Linder, Nick Marston, Tally Garner and theatre legend Bill Kenwright.

Broken is about an 11-year-old girl living in North London who witnesses a violent attack, bringing chaos to her life.

Producer Dixie Linder said: “I have been a huge fan of Rufus’ theatre work for many years and am delighted to be working with him on Broken. We are thrilled to be working with such a fantastic cast and crew.”

Christine Langan, Head of BBC Films, said: “Rufus Norris is one of the most exciting and visionary directors working today and it’s a thrill to support his debut film. With Mark O’Rowe’s beautifully crafted script and a glittering ensemble cast, Broken promises to capture the hearts of audiences worldwide.”

Lizzie Francke, Senior Production Executive at the BFI Film Fund, added: “We’re excited to support a project in which visionary theatre director Rufus Norris makes the transition to film, and with a fantastic screenplay from Mark O’Rowe and a superb cast, Broken promises to be an important addition to the landscape of British cinema.”

Norris’ theatre productions include London Road at the National Theatre and Vernon God Little at the Young Vic.

Marston and Garner’s Cuba Pictures — which sprung out of their work at Curtis Brown — worked with Norris on Vernon God Little; they also worked with O’Rowe on John Crowley’s Boy A.

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