Parvinder Shergill, known for her work in various film projects, is set to lead an indie movie focusing on the story of a pioneering Asian-British female police officer. The film, titled “The Winters Lion,” will feature Shergill in the role of PC Karpal Kaur Sandhu. The shooting for the movie is scheduled to begin in spring 2025 in the UK. The directorial debut for this project will be by Dhruv Bhatnagar, and the screenplay is being written by Tharen Sawan, a first-time screenwriter. Shergill’s production company, Pinder Productions, which focuses on telling female-centric, South Asian-led British stories, will be producing the film. This project comes on the heels of Shergill’s recent unveiling of “Break a Leg,” a mockumentary set in a British drama school, and the successful sale of her short film “Kaur” to Netflix earlier this year.
In a recent development, the BBC has acquired over 1,000 episodes of the popular Japanese anime series “One Piece” for the BBC iPlayer. The show, which has been on air since 1999, is based on Eiichido Oda’s manga series of the same name and follows the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat Crew as they search for a mythical treasure in the Grand Line. The BBC iPlayer, in collaboration with BBC Three, will be releasing all 10 sagas of “One Piece” between September and December, with the first three sagas already available on the platform. This anime series is distinct from the upcoming Netflix live-action adaptation, which features actors like Iñaki Godoy, Emily Rudd, Mackenyu, Jacob Romero Gibson, and Taz Skyla.
Marlow Film Studios (MFS) is currently facing rejection for its proposed plan for a major film and TV production campus in Buckinghamshire. The project aims to transform a quarry into a hub for film and television production, promising significant capital and economic investment in the region. Despite endorsements from industry heavyweights like Sam Mendes and James Cameron, the Buckinghamshire planning committee rejected the proposal due to its location on greenbelt land, which is safeguarded from development under British law. MFS has announced its intention to appeal the decision and is calling for a public inquiry into the matter.
These latest developments in the film industry showcase the diverse range of projects and challenges that the sector continues to navigate. From empowering stories of underrepresented voices to international acquisitions and local planning disputes, the film industry remains a dynamic and multifaceted landscape.