Tom Blyth joins claire denis’ The Cry of the Guards
Tom Blyth, best known for his role in The hunger games: The ballad of songbirds & snakes, has been announced as a lead in Claire Denis’ upcoming film The Cry of the Guards. The project, a four-hander, will also feature Mia McKenna-Bruce, Matt Dillon, and Isaach De Bankolé.
Adapted from Bernard-Marie Koltès’ play Black Battles With Dogs, the film’s screenplay has been crafted by Denis alongside Suzanne Lindon and Andrew Litvack. Set over the course of a single night, the story unfolds at a construction site in Senegal, where a group of workers face the arrival of a man seeking justice for his brother’s death at the same location.
An international collaboration
The film is being produced by Curiosa Films and Vixens, in partnership with Goodfellas and Saint Laurent Productions, alongside Senegal’s Astou Production. Arte France Cinema is also providing backing for the project, underscoring its international pedigree.
Tom blyth’s rising star
Blyth’s career has been on a meteoric rise. He recently wrapped up filming the male lead in People We Meet on Vacation, a Netflix and Sony 3000 project based on Emily Henry’s #1 New York Times bestselling novel. Prior to that, he completed three high-profile projects back-to-back, showcasing his versatility across genres.
These include:
- Plainclothes, an independent feature written and directed by Carmen Emmi, based on the true story of “plainclothes” officers entrapping gay men. The film, which also stars Russell Tovey, is set to premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.
- Wasteman, a gritty prison drama opposite David Jonsson, directed by Calum Macdiarmid and produced by Agile Films, Lionsgate UK, and Bankside.
- The highly anticipated film adaptation of Ubisoft’s popular video game Watch Dogs, in which Blyth stars alongside Sophie Wilde under the direction of French genre filmmaker Mathieu Turi.
Blyth’s breakout roles
Blyth first captured the attention of global audiences with his portrayal of young Coriolanus Snow in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. Taking on the iconic role originally played by Donald Sutherland, Blyth starred alongside Rachel Zegler, Viola Davis, and Peter Dinklage in the Lionsgate film, which grossed over $300 million worldwide.
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This spring, Blyth will return as the titular character in the third season of Billy the Kid on MGM+, continuing his acclaimed portrayal in the hit series. He also delivered a memorable performance in Terrence Davies’ Benediction alongside Jack Lowden.
A promising future with The cry of the guards
Claire Denis’ The Cry of the Guards promises to be a gripping exploration of justice, loss, and confrontation, set against the backdrop of post-colonial tensions in Senegal. With Denis’ reputation for crafting thought-provoking cinema and Blyth’s proven ability to deliver complex performances, the project has already generated considerable buzz.
Blyth’s representation by MJ Management, Gersh, United Agents in the UK, and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern underscores his growing appeal across both sides of the Atlantic.
As filming for The Cry of the Guards gets underway, fans of Blyth and Denis alike will eagerly anticipate this collaboration, which looks set to further cement Blyth’s status as one of the most exciting young talents in film today.
