David Farnor | On 22, Oct 2019

Michael Caine will star as Fagin in Sky Cinema’s latest original film, Twist.

Sky has unveiled the cast of its new co-production, and it’s impressive, boasting not only the two-time Academy Award winner, but also Lena Headey (Game of Thrones), actress and singer Rita Ora, David Walliams (Little Britain), Franz Drameh (Legends of Tomorrow), Sophie Simnett (Daybreak) and newcomer Raff Law.

Twist is a modern interpretation of Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist in which Oliver is reinvented as a streetwise artist living on the streets of modern-day London. A chance encounter with a gang of grifters led by the charismatic Dodge (Ora) sees Twist (Law) caught up in a high stakes heist to steal a priceless painting for master thief Fagin (Caine), and his psychopathic business partner, Sikes (Headey). Drameh will play Batesey, Simnett will play Red and Walliams will play Losberne.

Caine said: “Fagin is such an infamous character, it’s going to be great fun playing him. I’m really looking forward to working with Lena, Raff and the rest of the cast in London when we start shooting.”

Headey commented: “I couldn’t be more excited to take on the iconic character of Sikes from Oliver Twist. Flipping roles without apology or character softening is a brilliant way to breathe new life into established materials and bring it to new audiences.”

Law added: “I’m excited to play such a well-loved literary character, and I’m looking forward to working with Martin Owen to bring to life his new take on the character in modern-day London.”

Owen (Killers Anonymous, The Intergalactic Adventures of Max Cloud) is at the helm for the picture, which is produced by Unstoppable Film and TV, Posterity Pictures and Puregrass Films. Twist is written by John Wrathall (The Liability) with additional writing by Sally Collett and Martin Owen (The Intergalactic Adventures of Max Cloud).

The film goes into production in London this autumn.

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