“What happens when a brilliant barrister who has built her career believing in the law suddenly finds herself relying upon that same system for justice?”
Oscar-nominated Cynthia Erivo leads Prima Facie, a powerful new courtroom drama adapted for the screen by Suzie Miller from her internationally acclaimed stage play and directed by BAFTA-winner Susanna White.
Tessa Ensler is a fiercely ambitious and successful London barrister. From a working-class background, she has fought her way to the top of a demanding profession and become formidable in the courtroom, defending clients including men accused of sexual assault. She understands the rules, knows how to challenge evidence and has built her career on a profound belief in the workings of the legal system.
But when Tessa herself becomes the victim of a sexual assault, everything she thought she understood about justice is suddenly tested from the other side. The skills and arguments she once deployed professionally take on an entirely different meaning as she confronts the realities of the system in which she has placed so much faith.
Thought-provoking, emotionally charged and anchored by Cynthia Erivo in the central role, Prima Facie transforms Suzie Miller’s celebrated one-woman play into a full cinematic drama, expanding Tessa’s world with an ensemble cast including Daniel Ings, Noma Dumezweni, Toheeb Jimoh and Simon Russell Beale.
From Stage Phenomenon to Feature Film
The original Prima Facie became an international theatrical success, with Jodie Comer winning both Olivier and Tony Awards for her performance as Tessa. The new film is a separate screen adaptation, with Cynthia Erivo taking the role and Suzie Miller adapting her own play for cinema.
The film received its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on 13 September 2026 ahead of its UK cinema release on 13 November 2026.
Featuring locations including the Old Bailey and Lincoln’s Inn, the film takes Tessa’s story beyond the confines of the stage and into the London legal world in which it takes place.
Director: Susanna White
Cast: Daniel Ings, Harry Treadaway, Cynthia Erivo, Noma Dumezweni, Toheeb Jimoh
Film Length: 109mins
Format: 2D
Cert: 15
Screenings