Cannes: Daniel Radcliffe Boards South African Prison Escape Thriller

The British star will take the lead in 'Escape from Pretoria,' which is hitting the Cannes market.

Daniel Radcliffe is set to lead the upcoming prison breakout thriller Escape From Pretoria.

The film — which is being introduced to buyers in Cannes by The Works International — is based on Tim Jenkin’s autobiography. Radcliffe will star as the anti-apartheid activist who famously broke out of the Pretoria Maxium Security Prison alongside Stephen Lee in 1978.

David Barron (Cinderella, Harry Potter, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein) and Footprint Films’ Mark Blaney (This is Not a Love Song) and Jackie Sheppard (Africa United) will produce alongside The Works Film Group. Executive producers for The Works are Martin McCabe, Deepak Sikka and Mick Southworth.

Escape From Pretoria, which is being written and directed by rising talent Francis Annan, will start shooting in early 2018 on location in South Africa.

The film marks the second new project with Radcliffe debuting in the Cannes market. The in-demand actor recently was lined up to take the lead in action-comedy Guns Akimbo. He is repped by UTA and Artist Rights Group.