Why Harris Dickinson Put His Rising Acting Career on Hold to Direct Cannes Premiere ‘Urchin’: ‘I Didn’t Work as an Actor for a Year’

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If an actor is experiencing a rapid rise in his career with casting directors eagerly offering him leading roles and being hailed as the latest Hollywood heartthrob, it’s unlikely that he would voluntarily choose to stay away from the screen for a full year. Furthermore, it’s highly improbable that his agents would recommend such a decision.

But that’s exactly what Harris Dickinson — one of the industry’s fastest rising faces — did.

Following the completion of “Babygirl” in early 2024, he immediately moved on to preparing for his first directorial project, “Urchin.” In an interview with EbMaster, he states, “I didn’t act for a whole year. It wasn’t an option; there was no way I could shoot this film and work on other projects at the same time. Naturally, some unexpected issues cropped up, but I was fully devoted to this project.

Dickinson’s dedication to “Urchin” has led him to the Cannes Film Festival, three years after he made a significant impact as part of the ensemble cast in Ruben Ostlund’s Palme d’Or winner “Triangle of Sadness.” In this film, he portrayed one half of a model couple whose lavish cruise vacation took an unexpected and humorous turn. Competing in the Un Certain Regard section, Dickinson is part of a distinguished group of actors debuting as directors for the first time, a group that also includes Kristen Stewart and Scarlett Johansson.

He comments, ‘It seems entirely logical that they’re venturing into filmmaking.’ This is especially true when considering their past work, as it’s evident they possess a genuine passion for cinema.

As a budding film critic, I must say that despite being relatively fresh in the industry compared to the likes of Stewart and Johansson, Ruben Östlund’s hunger for directing predates his rise to stardom – a passion ignited even before his name graced the silver screen. In 2021, prior to the release of “Triangle of Sadness” that catapulted him to fame, he premiered his short film “2003” at the London Film Festival, a project born from a collaboration with Archie Pearch, a connection forged years prior. This was the birth of Devisio Pictures, their first joint production. Now, “Urchin”, a script penned by Östlund before the making of “Triangle of Sadness” and developed during its production, stands as the debut feature film under the Devisio banner.

Featuring Frank Dillane, the movie, previously garnering attention before its Cannes debut, portrays a complex yet charismatic character navigating London’s streets. Despite his attempts to straighten out his life, his self-destructive impulses present ongoing challenges. The film is intriguing, with some unconventional and innovative elements – Dickinson himself plays a minor role in it. Moreover, the storyline resonates deeply with Dickinson, who considers it close to his heart.

He explains, “The people around me face recurring challenges, which sparked my curiosity about their psychology. This curiosity led me to want to create a detailed character study centered on someone grappling with this issue. I aimed to approach it sensitively, offering a realistic portrayal of their journey.

To ensure authenticity and accuracy, Dickinson stated he intentionally welcomed “questioning” and “examination” into the script. This was done through various sources such as probation services, mental health organizations, and addiction experts. In his opinion, this is crucial for establishing the piece’s credibility and making it a faithful representation of reality.

It’s worth mentioning that Dickinson has been dedicating her time to charities focusing on homelessness for quite some time. During the initial lockdown, she offered assistance at a temporary shelter, and later established the London branch of Under One Sky, a charity for the homeless. The encounters with diverse individuals during these experiences undeniably contributed to the authenticity found in “Urchin’s” story.

As a passionate movie enthusiast, I can tell you firsthand that the making of this film was no walk in the park for our team. Most of the time, we found ourselves on bustling city streets late at night, battling the elements and navigating through a plethora of locations, each with its own set of complexities as dictated by the intricate script.

To capture the essence of our vision, we enlisted the talented Josée Deshaies (“Passages,” “Saint Laurent”), who, despite her impressive portfolio, had never before stepped foot in London. However, her fresh perspective and unfamiliarity with the city proved to be a valuable asset to us. The idea of working with someone who hadn’t shot or even been to London before was incredibly intriguing, and we were eager to see how she would bring her unique lens to our production.

As a devoted cinephile, I’m thrilled to share that after wrapping up my latest project, which is set to make a grand debut at Cannes, I’ll be returning in front of the camera once more. This exciting move aims to build upon the acting momentum I paused last year.

As a passionate cinephile, I find myself excitedly anticipating my upcoming role as John Lennon in Sam Mendes’ ambitious quadrilogy about The Beatles. Joining me in this endeavor are rising stars Paul Mescal, Barry Keoghan, and Joseph Quinn. While I can’t reveal much about the project, I can assure you that my Liverpudlian accent is indeed on its way!

However, after finishing filming, he intends to take on the director’s role once more for his upcoming project, similar to what he did with “Babygirl.” This means another year away from the screen, raising questions about how his representatives at Gersch feel about his frequent booking of lengthy schedules.

This version maintains the original meaning and is written in a more conversational style.

According to Dickinson, he had expressed his desire to make films rather than act when he initially joined them. Since then, they’ve been on board with this venture and have backed ‘Urchin’ from the beginning. However, he mused that perhaps they would have preferred a small role in the film while he was working on it.

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2025-05-17 08:17