Studiocanal have announced that principal photography has begun on the film adaptation of Victor Headley’s novel Yardie, directed by Idris Elba. 

The first image to be released shows Elba directing  Aml Ameen who stars as a young Jamaican named “D”. It will be filmed on location in London and Jamaica over the next seven weeks.

Yardie will also star Stephen Graham (also in the upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean film) as Rico, while Idris Elba will star as Piper. It will also feature new and upcoming talent including Shantol Jackson as Yvonne, Sheldon Shepherd as King Fox and Everaldo Creary as Jerry Dread.

The story follows young Jamaican named ‘D’ who, when arriving in early 1980’s London unexpectedly discovers the man who killed his younger brother back in Jamaica 10 years ago. His desire for justice explodes into a violent street war that could end up costing him his life as well as his loved ones. Yardie is based on the 1992 debut novel by Victor Headley.

Talking about the film, Idris Elba said: “I am interested in making human stories with characters that are either, full of grace or flawed. In Yardie the audience will see a film that hopefully means something to the people. I’m honoured to able to shoot it in my home town of London and as a guest in Jamaica.”

Yardie has been adapted for the big screen by Brock Norman Brock (Bronson) and Martin Stellman (Babylon, Queen and Country). It is produced for Warp Films by Robin Gutch (’71, Hunger) and Gina Carter (Heartlands, Dead In A Week, Snow Cake).

The film is co-financed by BFI, BBC Films Screen Yorkshire and Studiocanal. Universal Music are partners in the film and their Island Records label will be releasing the soundtrack. It is produced by Dan MacRae and Danny Perkins for Studiocanal; Mary Burke and Ben Roberts for the BFI; Joe Oppenheimer for BBC Films; Hugo Heppell for Screen Yorkshire;  Mark Herbert for Warp Films and Idris Elba will also serve as an Executive Producer.