Vivian Oparah Reuniting With ‘Rye Lane’ Director Raine Allen-Miller for Heist Comedy ‘The Roots Manoeuvre’; Toni Collette, Jessica Henwick, Little Simz and More Join Cast (EXCLUSIVE)

Raine Allen-Miller has tapped Vivian Oparah, the breakout and BAFTA nominated star of the writer/director’s hugely acclaimed debut feature “Rye Lane,” to lead the cast of her second film “The Roots Manœuvre, Variety can reveal.

Alongside Oparah, Toni Collette (“Hereditary,” “Muriel’s Wedding”), Paterson Joseph (“Wonka,” “Peep Show”), Jessica Henwick (“Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” “Matrix: Resurrections”), Little Simz (“Top Boy”), and Thomas Turgoose (“This Is England,” “Mickey 17”) have also joined the cast of the London-set heist comedy, due for theatrical release with Amazon MGM Studio’ Orion Pictures.

Producers include Plan B’s Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner, and Damian Jones of DJ Films. The film will be produced in association with BBC Film, with Eva Yates as an executive producer.

From a script by Allen-Miller, “The Roots Manœuvre” follows a young woman who orchestrates a daring heist to recover a stolen artifact, covering her tracks by managing the whirlwind of a luxury wedding.

Set and shot in South London and backed by BBC Film and the BFI, “Rye Lane” first bowed in Sundance in 2023 before being released by Searchlight in the U.K. and on Hulu in the U.S. Alongside landing critical praise for giving the rom-com genre a whip-smart and and unpretentiously charming update, the film went on to earn 16 nominations at the British Independent Film Awards (winning two awards) and two BAFTA nominations, including outstanding British film and best actress nomination for Oparah, who co-led the film alongside David Jonsson.

Since ‘Rye Lane,” Oparah has starred in “The You Run” for Sky Max and the mystery series “Dead Hot” for Tubi. Prior to that, she cast out of the National Youth Theatre into a leading role in the hugely successful “Doctor Who” spinoff series, “Class.” She also starred in the critically acclaimed series “I May Destroy You” for BBC One and HBO, and in the feature film “Teen Spirit” released by Lionsgate.

Oparah is represented by Independent Talent, CAA, and Tapestry London. Collette is represented by CAA, Finley Management, United Management, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman. Joseph is represented by Hamilton Hodell.Henwick is represented by CAA, imPRint, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman. Little Simz is represented by Independent Talent, September, The Lede Company, and Wired PR. Thomas Turgoose is represented by B-Side Management.