Shane Meadows, the mastermind behind indie drama This Is England, is set to release his first movie in almost two decades.
The filmmaker is most famous for his work on independent projects, which include the cult film This Is England (2006) and its three sequels. The original starred Stephen Graham, Vicky McClure, and Thomas Turgoose, telling the story of a rebellious young boy who joins a group of skinheads.
Meadows, 52, hasn’t released a film in 17 years but is making a comeback to the silver screen in 2026, it has now been announced.
The film in question is titled Chork, described by the man himself as a ‘runaway road trip’ movie.
As if Meadows’ touch wasn’t enough, the film has also been co-written by his long-time collaborator Jack Thorne, with whom he created the This Is England flicks.
Most recently, Thorne co-wrote three-part Netflix series Adolescence, which starred Graham, Erin Doherty, and rising star Owen Cooper, going on to break streaming records.
Produced by 42 and Unified alongside Meadows’ and Thorne’s own production companies and funded partly by BBC Film, Chork will be released into cinemas in the UK and Ireland next year, but an exact date is yet to be confirmed.
In conversation with Variety, Meadows said: ‘To be returning to film after 17 years, writing alongside “megadude” Jack Thorne again, and working with so many gifted collaborators has been an absolute privilege.’
He added of the project: ‘Our story follows two beyond bright, funny as heck, and mischievously ingenious young people on a “runaway” road trip the length of this glorious isle.
‘Safe to say, I’m beyond excited about what we’ve captured on their journey.
‘I’m also hugely grateful to our partners at BBC Film, BFI, Screen Yorkshire, Hoopsa Films and Altitude for their undying trust and support throughout.’
Chork was shot along the East coast from Kent through Lincolnshire and up to Scotland, with its plot set in the same location.
Characters include 15-year-old Kit and 11-year-old Ani on a trek across the coastline, hoping for big things after leaving their foster home.
However, with police on the lookout and a national search implemented, it’s anything but a blissful holiday.
As such, older child Kit must do what she can to protect Ani and achieve their end goal.
Eva Yates, director of BBC Film, said: ‘The films of Shane Meadows are at the heart of contemporary British independent cinema, and we are hugely excited to support his return, with a cast of exceptional new actors, his brilliant writing collaborator Jack Thorne, and an anarchic story of love, redemption, and the untapped and profound potential of youth.’
Meanwhile, giving fans a taste of what to expect, Louise Ortega, senior production and development executive at the BFI, described Chork as a ‘typically funny, urgent, and heartfelt state of the nation piece’.
She also praised Meadows, Thorne, and their ‘skilled crew of collaborators’ for ‘weaving [in] irreverent magic which asks timely questions’.
‘We can’t wait for their film to be out in the world, inspiring a new generation.’
As well as This Is England, Meadows’ other films include Small Time (1996), Twenty Four Seven (1997), A Room for Romeo Brass (1999), and Once Upon a Time in the Midlands (2002).
He’s also responsible for Dead Man’s Shoes (2004), Somers Town (2006), Le Donk & Scor-zay-zee (2009), and the latest The Stone Roses: Made of Stone (2013).
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