‘My Name is Leon’ trailer: Christopher Eccleston stars in uplifting ’80s drama
A trailer has been released for upcoming TV movie My Name is Leon.
Based on Kit de Waal’s novel, the BBC’s new “tender and inspiring” 90-minute film is set in Birmingham, England in the 1980s.
My Name is Leon tells the story of nine year-old Leon, a mixed-race boy, and his quest to reunite his family after being taken into care and separated from his blond and blue-eyed baby brother.
The brilliant cast includes Sir Lenny Henry (The Long Song), Monica Dolan (The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe), Malachi Kirby (Small Axe), Christopher Eccleston (The A Word), Olivia Williams (The Sixth Sense), and Poppy Lee Friar (Ackley Bridge), with newcomer Cole Martin playing Leon.
The official synopsis reads: “Told through Leon’s eyes, we follow his journey, full of energy and hopefulness despite the hardships he encounters, and witness the touching relationship between him and his foster carer Maureen.
“With his favourite action figure Sergeant Smith by his side, Leon’s adventure teaches him valuable lessons about himself, the world, love, and what family, in its various guises, really means.”
Watch the trailer:
My Name is Leon was filmed on location in Birmingham last year.
It’ll premiere in the UK at 9pm on Friday 10th June on BBC Two.
British viewers will then be able to stream it on BBC iPlayer.
We’re not yet sure when or where the film will premiere in the US, but we’ll keep you updated!
Sir Lenny Henry is also an executive producer on My Name is Leon.
The actor previously commented: “It is my honour to be part of the squad bringing Kit De Waal’s My Name Is Leon to BBC television. I discovered the book whilst performing the audio book and was so moved on the first day’s work that I rang my office at lunch time and said, we’ve got to try and do this.”
Henry is currently writing a semi-autobiographical drama set in the 1950s for ITV and will be starring in Amazon’s new Lord of the Rings series.
Kit de Waal’s novel is available on Amazon.