Noir isn’t just a genre limited to the mean streets across the pond; there have been plenty of examples set here in Blighty. A new one is set to start shooting next week, with City Of Tiny Lights boasting Billie Piper, Riz Ahmed, Cush Jumbo, James Floyd and Roshan Seth.
Adapted by Patrick Neale from his own book, the film will unspool the tale of down at heel investigator Tommy Akhtar (Ahmed), a deadbeat detective still pining over his lost love (Piper). Drowning his sorrows in booze and hoping to smoke away his cares, he’s sparked back into work mode by prostitute Melody (Jumbo), who wants him to track down her friend and flatmate Natasha. Turns out she went to meet a new client at a posh Mayfair bar and never returned.
But while Tommy doesn’t have much luck tracking down Natasha, he does stumble upon the body of Pakistani businessman Usman Rana, which draws him into a sinister conspiracy crawling with religious fanaticism and political intrigue.
With Pete 'Dredd' Travis directing, City Of Tiny Lights kicks off shooting on Monday in London, aiming for a 2016 release date.