Photo Credit:Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP
Cynthia Erivo has officially stepped into the courtroom, trading her witch’s robes from Wicked for a barrister’s wig in the upcoming film adaptation of Prima Facie. The feature, based on Suzie Miller’s award-winning one-woman play, has wrapped principal photography in London under the direction of BAFTA-winning and Emmy-nominated filmmaker Susanna White (Andor, Woman Walks Ahead).
The legal drama follows Tessa Ensler, played by Erivo, a brilliant young U.K. defense attorney who has climbed from working-class roots to become a rising star of the London bar. Known for her fierce defense of men accused of sexual assault, Tessa soon finds herself facing a life-altering dilemma — one that forces her to question her faith in the very justice system she has sworn to uphold.
Filming took place at notable London landmarks, including The Old Bailey, Lincoln’s Inn, and The Story Works — the city’s newest studio complex. The movie is produced by Greer Simpkin and David Jowsey (Mystery Road), alongside Kevin Loader (The Death of Stalin), with executive producers including Erivo and Solome Williams through their banner Edith’s Daughter (Drift).
The supporting cast features a strong lineup: Daniel Ings (The Gentlemen), Elizabeth Dulau (Andor), Noma Dumezweni (The Undoing), Toheeb Jimoh (Ted Lasso), Harry Treadaway (The Crown), Sarah Junillon (FBI: International), Elliot Levey (Giant), and Simon Russell Beale (House of the Dragon).
Written for the screen by Miller herself, Prima Facie expands upon the acclaimed stage production that starred Jodie Comer in both the West End and Broadway runs, earning Olivier and Tony Awards for Best Actress and Best Play. The film version builds on that success, evolving the one-woman format into a multi-dimensional cinematic experience.
“As an actor and executive producer, it means so much to be part of the team bringing Suzie Miller’s indelible Prima Facie from stage to screen,”said Erivo. “Tessa Ensler’s story is that of so many, and my hope is that it reaches the furthest corners and cultivates conversations that help us understand and empathize with one another in ways especially needed today.”
Miller echoed Erivo’s sentiment, noting that seeing her play expand into film “has blown my mind.” She praised Erivo’s performance, saying, “Cynthia has inhabited Tessa and made her completely her own. She is an actress at the pinnacle of her talent.”
Embankment Films, which launched international sales at Cannes, has significantly pre- sold Prima Facie across key territories and is handling worldwide sales and distribution alongside UTA Independent Film Group and CAA Media Finance.
Director Susanna White described adapting the monologue-based play into a full-length feature as both “challenging and inspiring.” She added, “I wanted this important story, which affects one in three women, to spark conversation and stay with audiences long after they leave the cinema.”
Shot during the cinematic beauty of autumn in London, Prima Facie is an Australia–U.K. co-production between Bunya Productions and Embankment Films, with major investment from Minderoo Pictures, Screen Australia, and Screen NSW. The producing team promises a visually rich and emotionally charged drama that delivers both powerful storytelling and cultural resonance.
With Erivo’s commanding performance and White’s deft direction, Prima Facie is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated courtroom dramas of the coming year — one that challenges perceptions of justice, power, and truth.