Ruaridh Mollica Cast in Tom Brittney’s Directorial Debut Joe, Adaptation of The Whale Tattoo

Ruaridh Mollica (Sebastian, Too Rough) has been cast as the lead in Tom Brittney’s directorial debut, titled Joe.

According to Film Updates, Joe is a film adaptation of Jon Ransom’s novel The Whale Tattoo.

The film follows Joe as he returns to his hometown—a small Norfolk fishing village—to confront his troubled past. Haunted by death, trauma, and unfulfilled love, Joe must face these burdens upon his return. Along the way, he uncovers a disturbing truth about the river running by his estranged father’s house—which deepens the complexity of his journey.

Recently, Deadline reported that Wild Nest Pictures, a UK production company, has secured the screen rights to Ransom’s debut novel The Whale Tattoo. Brittney and Oliver Powell are leading the development of the adaptation, with Ransom set to pen the script. The novel recently won a Polari Prize, one of the UK’s premier awards for LGBTQ+ literature.

In a statement, Wild Nest said, “Jon is a brilliant new voice in queer literature. His writing is incredibly evocative, raw and steeped in atmosphere. We’re excited to help him bring Joe’s story of grief and forgiveness to life.”

Ransom said, “It’s an absolute dream come true. Tom and Ollie’s passion for developing the novel into a film is everything a writer could wish for.”

Mollica recently starred in Mikko Mäkelä’s Sebastian, where he plays the role of Max, an aspiring young writer in London who begins living a double life as a sex worker to research his debut novel. He also appeared in the Channel 5 series Witness Number 3 and the BBC Three series Red Rose (both 2022).

Brittney is best known for his role as Detective Sergeant (DS) Billie Friday in the British television series Grantchester, which he joined in series 4 and has continued through subsequent seasons. He has appeared in other television shows and films, including Outlander and The Last Kingdom. Joe is his directorial debut, marking his transition from acting to directing, and he is expected to take on more directing and producing projects.

More production details about Joe are expected soon. I will update you soon on this page.

Source: Film Updates/X and Deadline