Tom Blyth joins David Jonsson in Cal McMau’s gritty prison thriller ‘Wasteman’

David Jonsson and Tom Blyth star in Cal McMau’s prison drama ‘Wasteman,’ a raw story of survival and redemption

The first trailer for Wasteman has arrived, introducing audiences to a gripping new British prison thriller directed by first-time filmmaker Cal McMau.

Starring David Jonsson (Rye Lane) and Tom Blyth (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes), the film explores survival, morality, and masculinity within the unforgiving confines of the UK’s prison system.

Premiering at TIFF 2025, Wasteman follows Taylor (Jonsson), a long-serving inmate nearing parole after years of incarceration that stripped him of his family and freedom. His fragile path to redemption is threatened when he’s assigned a volatile new cellmate, Dee (Blyth), whose unpredictable behavior plunges Taylor back into the violent underworld of prison politics and fractured alliances.

Joining the cast are Alex Hassell, Corin Silva, and Paul Hilton, who add depth to McMau’s tense and emotional vision of life behind bars. The trailer teases a world of claustrophobic tension, raw emotion, and moments of fleeting humanity amid relentless brutality.

Drawing comparisons to acclaimed British prison dramas like Scum and Starred Up, McMau’s debut promises a fresh perspective on the genre — one that blends psychological intensity with gritty realism. With its sharp cinematography, grounded performances, and unflinching portrayal of confinement, Wasteman positions McMau as a bold new voice in British cinema.

Wasteman opens in UK cinemas on February 20, 2026, with a U.S. release date to be announced soon.