Wasteman(2026)

Name: Wasteman
Director: Cal McMau
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Released: Apr 17, 2026
Cast: Tom Blyth, David Jonsson, Alex Hassell, Corin Silva, Keaton Ancona-Francis

Independent

1h 30m

Release Date: Apr 17, 2026 | Limited

Taylor has been in prison for thirteen years. He's close to parole, keeping his head down, cooking for other inmates, and counting the days. Then Dee arrives. Volatile, loud, and impossible to ignore, Dee becomes Taylor's new cellmate and takes him under his wing. When a vicious attack forces Taylor to choose between protecting Dee and protecting his own release, everything he's held together starts to come apart. A British prison drama about addiction, loyalty, and the impossible choices men make behind closed doors.

Note: Distributed by Vertigo Releasing

Releases

Original Release | Apr 17, 2026

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Director & Top Cast

Cal McMau
Director

Tom Blyth
Dee

David Jonsson
Taylor

Alex Hassell
Paul

Corin Silva
Gaz

Keaton Ancona-Francis
Stu

Layton Blake

Maxi

Neil Linpow

Robby

Paul Hilton

Browning

Jack Barker

Cook up Prisoner

Fred Muthui

Prisoner in Cell

Neil Berrett

Prisoner

Darren Clayton

Self - Prisoner

David Cromarty

Prisoner

Chay Faraday-Browne

Poke Bowl

Callan Farrow

Prison inmate twin

Kyle Farrow

Twin

Martin Fox

Prison Officer

Other Details

Country of Origin: United Kingdom

Language: English

Summaries

Plot Summary

Wasteman is a 2025 British prison film directed by Cal McMau in his narrative feature debut, from a screenplay by Eoin Doran and Hunter Andrews. David Jonsson stars as Taylor, a prison cook who has been incarcerated for thirteen years and is finally eligible for early release. Tom Blyth plays Dee, a menacing and volatile new cellmate whose arrival threatens Taylor's careful, quiet plan to get out. Executive produced by Philip Barantini and David Jonsson. Produced by Sophia Gibber and Myles Payne for Bankside Films, Hoopsa Films, Agile Films, and It's All Made Up Productions. The film had its world premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival on September 6, 2025, in the Centrepiece programme. McMau won the Douglas Hickox Award for best debut director at the 2025 British Independent Film Awards. The film was also BAFTA-nominated for outstanding debut by a British writer, director, or producer. Released theatrically in the UK and Ireland by Lionsgate on February 20, 2026. Sunrise Films acquired North American rights and set a US theatrical release on April 17, 2026. Holds 100% on Rotten Tomatoes from 23 critics and a Metacritic score of 74 out of 100. For viewers drawn to gritty British realism, prison dramas, and performance-driven character studies.

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Fun Facts

Wasteman (2025) follows long-term prisoner Taylor (David Jonsson), branded a "wasteman" for staying out of trouble amid gangs and violence, whose early parole hopes shatter with chaotic new cellmate Dee (Tom Blyth).