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“The Awakening,” the British conspiracy thriller starring two-time Oscar winner Kevin Spacey in a supporting role, is coming to the U.S.
The feature — which has the tagline “The Film They Don’t Want You to See” — will
land on digital and cable platforms on Nov. 24 through Blue Harbor Entertainment.
The announcement comes after “The Awakening” premiered at Matera Film Festival in Italy on Nov. 10 and ahead of a U.K. premiere at Pinewood Studios, where it was shot, on Nov. 13. A U.K. release will follow the U.S. launch, with further international dates to be announced.
“The Awakening” stars Alice Eve (“Star Trek Into Darkness”), Justin Tinto and Eddie “The Beast” Hall (the former World’s Strongest Man in his first major film role), with Peter Stormare (“Fargo,” “John Wick: Chapter 2”), former James Bond villains Steven Berkoff (“Octopussy”) and Julian Glover (“For Your Eyes Only”), and Spacey. At the Cannes Film Festival in 2025, Spacey was in attendance to help promote the film.
Set during a global pandemic, the story follows former Army officer Jason Reynolds (Tinto), whose parents have disappeared, and Rebecca Reynolds (Eve) as they uncover a conspiracy run by a hidden organisation known as The Order, whose influence reaches into the highest levels of global power. Hunted by The Order’s enforcers, the two race to expose what they have found. The cast also includes Matt Hookings and comedian Daniel O’Reilly, widely known as Dapper Laughs. Alongside playing the lead, Tinto created and financed the film, which has been five years in the making.
“I wanted to make a film that entertains people but also makes them think. A story that challenges what we accept as truth, who we trust and how easily the world around us can be manipulated,” said Tinto. “Bringing this film to life with such an extraordinary cast, and now sharing it with audiences internationally, is something I’m incredibly proud of.”
Created and independently financed by Tinto through Awakening Movie Ltd, the film was produced by Tim Kent and Hookings in association with Camelot Films. It was directed by Matt Routledge and written by Tinto, Routledge and Hookings, with principal photography beginning at Pinewood Studios in May 2024. The crew includes cinematographer László Bille, whose camera credits include “Dune” and “Blade Runner 2049,” stunt coordinator Luke Tumber (“No Time to Die”,” Venom: The Last Dance”); special effects supervisor Graham Povey (“Gladiator,” “World War Z”); and editor Chris Gill (“The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”). A sequel, “The Awakening 2,” is in development.
“A conspiracy thriller only works if the audience can believe the world on screen is one step away from their own. This cast made that world real,” said director Routledge.
Added Hooking: “Most independent films at this scale never get finished, and ours did. Shooting at Pinewood with this cast isn’t something you take for granted, and we’re already at work on the sequel.”
