NME readers can now watch an exclusive behind-the-scenes video from “harrowing” prison drama Wasteman, starring BAFTA winner and former Industry star David Jonsson alongside The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes‘ Tom Blyth – check it out below.
Wasteman hits UK cinemas next month (February 20) and follows soon-to-be-released prisoner Taylor (Jonsson) as his hopes for a fresh start get jeopardised by chaotic new cellmate Dee (Blyth). “As Dee takes Taylor under his wing, a vicious attack tests their bond, forcing Taylor to choose between protecting Dee and his own parole chances,” explains the official logline.
“At the last minute, Dee comes into Taylor’s life to challenge him in every single way. It’s a real yin and yang situation,” said Blyth in the behind-the-scenes video that can be seen below. “It’s so electric and pretty harrowing.”
“Me and David have been looking for a project to do together for a long time, then he found this script and thought I’d be good at Dee… now I’m thinking that’s not actually a compliment,” he continued. “The film has this layer of authenticity. We’re making it feel real and not some Hollywood version of a prison story.”
Before filming started, Jonsson worked with a charity that reintegrates former inmates into society and watched footage filmed from inside British prisons. The cast of Wasteman also features a number of former inmates.
“Wasteman is probably the closest thing I’ve done to myself, which is so messed up because it’s so dark. It’s a story about rehabilitation and addiction,” he told Esquire last year. “I know these men really well and I think that that’s what attracted me to it. Especially when you’re growing up somewhere like where I grew up: the opportunities aren’t there.”
Wasteman is directed by Cal McMau with a script written by Hunter Andrews and Eoin Doran. All three have been nominated for the Outstanding Debut From A British Writer, Producer Or Director award at the 2026 BAFTAs as well as the teams behind Pilion, The Ceremony, A Want In Her and My Father’s Shadow.
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