Kingsley Ben-Adir, Archie Madekwe to play brothers in ‘The Arrival’

Kingsley Ben-Adir, Archie Madekwe, Joanna Scanlan and Alex Descas are set to star in The Arrival, the feature directorial debut of theatre director Bijan Sheibani.

Adapted from Sheibani’s stage play of the same name, The Arrival follows two brothers, Raheem (Madekwe) and Tom (Ben-Adir), who meet for the first time as adults after being separated in childhood when Tom was adopted. As they grow closer, their reunion forces them to confront long-buried family secrets and the consequences of a decision made by their parents (Scanlan and Descas) thirty years earlier.

The film, which has just wrapped production in London, marks Sheibani’s first feature as writer and director. It was developed with Film4 alongside Michael Fassbender’s DMC Film and House Productions, which also co-produced the project. The Arrival is co-financed by Film4 and the BFI.

“Having worked with Bijan on his Film4-backed short Morning Song and throughout development of the script, we’re proud to see The Arrival come to life,” said Film4 senior commissioning executive David Kimbangi. “The calibre of the cast and crew that have attached to the film is testament to Bijan’s writing and his reputation in theatre.”

Madekwe is known for Midsommar, Saltburn, and new release Lurker. Ben-Adir played Bob Marley in Reinaldo Marcus Green’s biopic Bob Marley: One Love (2024), Malcolm X in Regina King’s One Night in Miami…(2020), and had a small role as one of the Kens in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie (2024). Scanlan’s credits include Notes on a Scandal (2006) and Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy. The filmography of veteran French actor Descas includes starring turns in Raoul Peck’s Lumumba (2000), Claire Denis’ 35 Shots of Rum (2008), and Jim Jarmusch’s The Limits of Control (2009).

The Arrival is produced by BAFTA Award winner and Emmy Award nominee Tessa Ross (Conclave, Slumdog Millionaire), Emmy Award nominee Juliette Howell (Brexit: The Uncivil War, Conclave) and BIFA winner Theo Barrowclough (Scrapper, Mint) for House Productions. Fassbender, Daniel Emmerson, and Conor McCaughan produced for DMC Film with Nell Green also credited as a producer on the feature. Executive producers include Kimbangi for Film4 and Ama Ampadu for the BFI.

Cornerstone is handling worldwide sales, introducing the title to buyers at the American Film Market in Los Angeles next month.