Back in 2016, Femi Oyeniran and Nicky Slimting Walker’s The Intent become a surprising hit, none more surprising than the film’s own filmmakers. The underground hit burst onto the scene selling out all cinemas on its independent release, climbing to number 3 on the iTunes movie chart before eventually being sold to Netflix.
Fast forward 2 years and Femi and Nicky are back with the film’s follow-up. The prequel, The Intent 2: The Come Up reintroduces old characters and brings along a few new faces to go back to 1997 to follow the gang as their pasts and journey’s give us an insight into what made them into the callous gangsters we all came to know. The story centres on Jay (Ghetts) who has big dreams; but his ambitions are crippled by his allegiance to both his crew and Hackney crime boss Beverley (Sharon Duncan-Brewster). Jay sets about laying the foundations for his own organised crime ring with the help of Mustafa (Adam Deacon). Things are going well until Beverley discovers his disloyalty, and an ill-fated robbery in North London followed by a critical trip to Jamaica that tears the crew apart. All the while, their actions are being monitored by an undercover Met Police officer Gunz (Dylan Duffus), who has been deployed to integrate himself into the crew.
Representing British Black Culture both from the world of film and music, Not only does Oyeniran and Walker call upon some friends from the world of Grime such as Ghetts – who takes the leading role as Jay as well as providing the soundtrack – Krept and Konan, Popcaan and Fekky but bring back old faces such as Ashley Chin as G-Money and Dylan Duffas as Gunz. Also, in a first, the film and music industries collaborate with Island Records taking its first steps into the world of film by financing the whole project.
Zehra Phelan caught up with Directors/Writers Oyeniran and Walker – who also star in the film – and returning cast members Ashley Chin and Dylan Duffas to talk about the film and its leading star, Ghetts.
The Intent 2: The Come Up is out in cinemas September 21
