Lauren McQueen to headline Michael J. Long's British psychological drama 'Crack'd'
Washington DC, July 7
Actor Lauren McQueen is set to lead the upcoming British psychological drama 'Crack'd', directed by Liverpool-based filmmaker Michael J Long, according to Variety.
A first-look image from the film has also been unveiled as the project nears picture lock.
Set and filmed in Liverpool, Crack'd stars McQueen as Chloe, a once-promising young actor whose reality begins to unravel as she becomes trapped in a cycle of addiction, violation and violence.
The cast also includes Robbie O'Neill, known for Adolescence and Enola Holmes 3, and Jodie McNee, alongside a supporting ensemble of Liverpool-based talent.
Speaking about the project, Long said the film moves beyond conventional social realism.
"Crack'd' shifts from gritty social realism into psychological fracture," he said, adding that he hopes the project will help usher in a new era of filmmaking from England's north-west.
Long described the film as the flagship project of a regional creative movement he is spearheading.
"The performance-led feature serves as the flagship title for a new regional movement I am spearheading: 'The Scouse New Wave,'" he said. "Our mission is to champion raw, character-driven storytelling with a distinctly Northern, working-class perspective," he said, as per outlet.
'Crack'd' is executive produced by Marc Koebernick, Michael J. Long and AJ Jones, who also serves as producer and appears in the film. It is produced by Funk Films, run by Long and Tom Sidney, in association with Zope Studios. Paddy Rowan and Kayleigh Ann Coleman are also producers, while Bobby Schofield and Shaun Fagan serve as associate producers. Ben Molyneux-Chan is the film's director of photography, according to Variety.
The project marks Long's second feature after his debut film, Baby Brother, which premiered at the 2024 Oldenburg Film Festival and won the Hans Ohlms Award.
Crack'd is targeting its international festival premiere in early 2027, according to Variety.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Another dark addiction story? Hope it doesn't become another depression-porn cliché. But the Scouse New Wave concept is interesting—we have similar regional movements in Malayalam cinema or even Marathi films. Would love to see more international films tackle working-class struggles without romanticizing poverty.
'Raw, character-driven storytelling with a distinctly Northern, working-class perspective'—this is exactly what world cinema needs more of! The Liverpool setting gives it a unique flavor. As someone who follows British TV, I'm excited to see where this goes. 😊
The addiction and violence themes are heavy, but that's what makes it real. Bollywood ka 'masala' version would have item numbers in rehab 😂. Glad Long is pushing boundaries. Just hope the narrative doesn't exploit suffering for shock value.
Finally! A film that doesn't glamorize addiction. The psychological fracture angle is reminiscent of 'Black Swan' but with a working-class backdrop. Liverpool has always been a vibrant city; good to see it getting cinematic attention. 2027 feels far, but I'll wait.
More female-led stories about trauma? Count me in! But I do worry about the repetitive nature of 'broken woman' narratives. Hope McQueen gets to show some complexity beyond just suffering. The cast looks strong—fingers crossed!
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