'Lineage' – Yann Demange’s London Crime Thriller Readied for Cannes Market

‘Lineage,’ a London-set crime drama, will debut at the Marché du Film during the 2026 Cannes Festival. The cast includes Isabelle Huppert (her first British film), singer-songwriter RAYE, Dali Benssalah and Adam Bessa. Principal photography starts early August 2026; Veterans leads international sales and CAA Media Finance handles U.S. rights.

Express Tribune

Yann Demange, director of ‘71,’ ‘Top Boy’ and ‘White Boy Rick,’ describes ‘Lineage’ as a homecoming and love letter to his London. Enda Walsh wrote the screenplay from Demange’s story, refined over two years. Producer Thomas Benski (Wayward) oversees production with executive producers Tessa Ross (House Productions), Richard Mansell (Strange Charm) and Eva Yates (BBC Film). Financing comes from LPI, Lumina Studios and BBC Film.

Variety Magazine

• Development: story refined (2024-2026).

Billboard

• Cannes Market launch: May 2026.

Express Tribune

• Filming: early August 2026 in London.

Billboard

• Sales: Veterans (global) and CAA Media Finance (U.S.).

Variety Magazine

• Funding: Wayward, Carrousel, BBC Film, LPI and Lumina Studios.

Variety Magazine

‘Lineage’ merges crime-genre tension with family loyalty and multicultural London life. It unites French, British and Irish talent, marks Huppert’s first British role and showcases RAYE’s shift from chart-topping music to acting, offering global commercial appeal.

Express Tribune

Demange called the film a homecoming and tribute to his London, aiming to refresh crime-genre conventions while probing family ties. Benski praised Demange as a singular cinematic voice balancing emotional intensity with commercial ambition. RAYE said stepping onto a set was unforgettable and affirmed her new creative autonomy.

Express Tribune

Sources disagree on RAYE’s exact character, offering no confirmation. One report highlights her on-set experience with Jason Bateman; another stresses her broader artistic freedom, leaving her role unclear.

Rolling Stone

• “‘Lineage’ is a homecoming for me in many ways,” — Yann Demange, Director

Variety Magazine

• “It’s also my love letter to the London I grew up in and love. It’s important to me that the film both honors and delivers on the crime genre in an exciting and fresh way, whilst simultaneously exploring the complications of family and the possibility of transcending one’s beginnings,” — Yann Demange, Director

Variety Magazine

• “a singular cinematic voice and one of the most distinctive filmmakers of his generation, masterfully blending emotional intensity, propulsive visual storytelling, and cultural relevance.” — Thomas Benski, Producer

Variety Magazine

• “Reading my very first ever ‘on screen’ lines whilst staring into Jason Bateman’s eyes is a life experience I will never forget,” — RAYE, Singer-songwriter

Rolling Stone

After its Cannes Market debut, ‘Lineage’ will be shopped to international distributors.

Express Tribune