Vivian Oparah Reuniting With ‘Rye Lane’ Director Raine Allen-Miller for Heist Comedy ‘The Roots Manoeuvre’; Toni Collette, Jessica Henwick, Little Simz and More Join Cast (EXCLUSIVE)

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Raine Allen-Miller has chosen Vivian Oparah, the rising and BAFTA-nominated actress from the highly praised director’s debut movie “Rye Lane,” as the main actor for her upcoming film “The Roots Manœuvre.” According to EbMaster, this is the news.

In addition to Oprah, Toni Collette (known for “Hereditary” and “Muriel’s Wedding”), Paterson Joseph (“Wonka” and “Peep Show”), Jessica Henwick (“Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” and “Matrix: Resurrections”), Little Simz (“Top Boy”), and Thomas Turgoose (“This Is England” and “Mickey 17”) have also been added to the ensemble cast of a London-set heist comedy, which is scheduled for release in theaters through Amazon MGM Studio and Orion Pictures.

The movie is being produced by Plan B Entertainment’s Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner, along with Damian Jones from DJ Films. This production is being done jointly with BBC Film, and Eva Yates serves in a supervisory role.

According to Allen-Miller’s screenplay, the story unfolds around a courageous female protagonist who masterminds an exhilarating burglary to retrieve a misappropriated artifact. She skillfully conceals her actions within the chaos of planning and executing a grand wedding ceremony.

Filmed in South London and funded by BBC Film and the BFI, “Rye Lane” premiered at Sundance in 2023 before being distributed in the U.K. by Searchlight Pictures and on Hulu in the U.S. The movie received positive critical acclaim for modernizing and refreshing the romantic comedy genre with its sharp wit and authentic charm. It also garnered 16 nominations at the British Independent Film Awards, winning two awards, and earned two BAFTA nominations, including one for Best British Film and a Best Actress nod for Oparah, who shared the lead role with David Jonsson.

I’ve had the privilege of gracing various projects lately, such as “Rye Lane” on Oprah, “The You Run” for Sky Max, and the mystery series “Dead Hot” for Tubi. Before that, my journey began with a leading role in the immensely popular “Doctor Who” spinoff series, “Class,” produced by the National Youth Theatre. I’ve also been part of the critically acclaimed series “I May Destroy You” on BBC One and HBO, and I had the opportunity to appear in the feature film “Teen Spirit,” distributed by Lionsgate.

Oprah is managed by three agencies: Independent Talent, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), and Tapestry London. Collette is also handled by four agencies: CAA, Finley Management, United Management, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman. Joseph is represented solely by Hamilton Hodell. Henwick is represented by a trio of agencies: CAA, imPRint, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman. Little Simz has four representatives: Independent Talent, September, The Lede Company, and Wired PR. Thomas Turgoose, however, is managed by B-Side Management on his own.

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2025-05-09 20:04