Adolescence duo’s upcoming film tipped to surprise viewers as Ashley Walters makes “beautiful” directorial debut

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Ashley Walters has had a busy year! The actor, known for his role in Top Boy, started 2025 starring in two new shows: Harlan Coben’s Missing You and the popular Netflix series Adolescence. On top of acting, he’s also been working on his music and released a memoir.

Walters has a promising future, and next year he’ll be directing his first feature film, called Animol.

The new movie, written by Nick Love, is a moving and realistic story about growing up, showing how people can find strength and connection even when facing difficult times.

Film4 and Joi Productions, a company founded by Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor, created the film. Following the release of Gharoro-Akpojotor’s first film as a director, Dreamers, she discussed what audiences can anticipate from Animol in an exclusive interview for the Pass the Mic series.

“That man doesn’t sleep!” Gharoro-Akpojotor jokes, looking back on a busy year. Animol began production at the start of the year, but since then, his film Adolescence has been released to fantastic reviews and has already won several awards.

Now that Adolescence is out and things have been so busy, how’s the collaboration with Walters on the Animol project going?

I’m really pleased with how things are going. Honestly, a big part of that is because all this attention is good for the film – it means more people will be able to see it when it’s released next year,” Gharoro-Akpojotor explains.

What’s great about working with Ashley is his professionalism and collaborative spirit. He’s really open to hearing other people’s ideas and genuinely considers them. I think his experience working in different areas of music and acting has taught him to value everyone’s input and work well with others.

Being around him during filming has been amazing – everyone’s so hyped about the movie and we’re all eager for it to come out. It’s just that he’s been incredibly busy lately, with a really packed schedule.

Look, it’s clear this guy is seriously committed. He’s constantly juggling huge projects – from the Emmys with ‘Adolescence’ to now ‘Dune: Prophecy,’ plus another film he shot over the summer – but he always finds a way to make their relationship work. He’s told her directly that she is a priority, and honestly, you can see that effort. It’s a busy life, but he seems determined to make it all fit.

It’s been a really exciting and unpredictable journey, and I’m thrilled for everyone to finally see the film. It’s surprisingly beautiful and showcases a side of him people haven’t seen before. I think it will establish him as a truly unique and compelling visual and creative artist. Viewers are in for something they won’t anticipate.

Although Walters has directed several episodes of ‘A Thousand Blows,’ ‘Animol’ is his debut as a feature film director. He’ll also be working with Stephen Graham again, as the two previously starred together in ‘Adolescence’.

The movie is inspired by the real-life experiences of its creator, and promises a powerful look inside a Young Offenders’ Institution. Graham will play a Welfare Officer who helps the young people while they’re serving time, and Sharon Duncan-Brewster joins the cast alongside leads Tut Nyuot and Vladyslav Baliuk.

When production began on Animol, director Walters explained that he and Nick had previously collaborated and shared a desire to make something impactful and visually stunning. He also described Animol as a very meaningful project for him personally.

This film delves into the difficulty of staying true to yourself when the world expects you to fit in—a common and significant life struggle. Ultimately, it’s a story about overcoming challenges and finding security through genuine relationships. The focus isn’t on what happens, but why it happens. I’m thrilled to be making my first feature film with such a talented group of people.

Currently, there’s no confirmed release date for the movie Animol. It’s being produced by Gharoro-Akpojotor and Tom Hawkins through Joi Productions, a company that specializes in films and TV shows with Black, queer, and female leads.

In a recent interview, Gharoro-Akpojotor discussed the current state of diversity in UK film and shared her feelings about her new movie. She expressed both excitement and apprehension, hoping it will reach a wide audience.

I hope this film will resonate with audiences and spark conversation, but I’m also a little nervous about whether people will connect with the love story and the themes of immigration. It’s only the second Black lesbian film to be released in UK cinemas, which is a huge step for representation. I’m thrilled about that, but I wonder if that alone will draw viewers. Actually, I think people should watch it precisely because of its importance and the story it tells.

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2025-12-05 13:36