Sky has acquired U.K. and Irish rights to Cookster: The Darkest Days, a British crime drama that has been collecting festival accolades ahead of its broadcast debut.
The movie draws from the real-life story of writer-producer Jason Cook and follows a young man from 1981 to 1993. Written by Joann Hess from a story by Cook, the script charts a dyslexic teenager who, after suffering bullying, is pulled into the heroin trade and ultimately becomes addicted to the product he once sold.
Stephen Roach directed the feature. Nick Moran — familiar to audiences from Guy Ritchie’s Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and the Harry Potter films — plays the protagonist’s father, opposite Coronation Street alum Tracy Shaw as his mother. The central character is portrayed at different ages by Craige Middleburg (The Batman) and Samuel Staite (Dig Me No Grave). The cast also includes Indonesian performer Elvira Devinamira.
Moran said taking the role carried personal significance given the story’s origins, calling it an honor to help bring Cook’s difficult, deeply personal experiences to the screen. Shaw likewise described the part of the mother as emotionally demanding but rewarding, and enjoyed collaborating with the ensemble and crew — plus the chance to drive a period 1980s car.
Cookster has earned multiple honors on the festival circuit: Best Crime Feature at the London Independent Film Festival in 2024, a Best Director prize from the Director Talents Movie Awards in 2025, and Best First-Time Director at the London Director Awards, along with a nomination from the National Film Academy.
The film’s period feel is supported by a soundtrack that features tracks from DJ Luck & MC Neat, The Midnight, Louise Browne, and original scoring by Los Angeles–based composer Gregory Dombrowski.
Production was handled by Djonny Chen’s Silent D Pictures in partnership with Jason Cook’s JC Pictures. Silent D has built a reputation for supporting diverse international projects, with credits including BFI London Film Festival selection High Wire (starring Isabella Wei), Finding My Voice (with Michelle Ryan), Follow the Dark (featuring James Cosmo), and Indonesia box-office hit Before Night Falls.
Cook emphasized the importance of audiences backing independent British cinema, noting that these films tell often-overlooked stories that reflect real community struggles.
Amazon Prime Video U.K. is currently streaming Cookster: The Darkest Days, with Sky set to premiere the film later in 2025.
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