Free Fire: New Ben Wheatley film starring Brie Larson to close London Film Festival

Amma Asante's A United Kingdom has already been confirmed to open the festival

Ben Wheatley’s new action thriller Free Fire has been confirmed to close the London Film Festival.

The upcoming movie from the acclaimed director is set in Massachusetts in the late Seventies and stars Oscar-winning Room actress Brie Larson in the lead as Justine. Cillian Murphy, Michael Smiley, Sharlto Copley and Armie Hammer make up the cast.

The film follows the “heart-stopping game of survival” after shots are fired during a meeting between Justine, two Irishmen and two arms dealers who are selling them a stash of guns.

Free Fire official synopsis

Justine (Brie Larson) has brokered a meeting in a deserted warehouse between two Irishmen (Cillian Murphy, Michael Smiley) and a gang led by Vernon (Sharlto Copley) and Ord (Armie Hammer) who are selling them a stash of guns. But when shots are fired in the handover, a heart-stopping game of survival ensues.

Wheatley, whose recent films High-Rise and black comedy Sightseers were also presented at the festival, described closing the 2016 event as a “great honour” and thanked organisers for supporting his films.

Festival director Clare Stewart has described Free Fire as a “ballsy actioner” that showcases Wheatley’s “dazzling cinematic talent”. “Dripping with blood, sweat and irony, Free Fire’s bravura filmmaking pays knowing tribute to the films of Sam Peckinpah and features a terrific cast who clearly relish bringing Wheatley and co-writer Amy Jump’s vivid characters to the screen,” she said.

The LFF’s Closing Night gala on Sunday 16 October at Odeon Leicester Square will serve as Free Fire’s European premiere ahead of it reaching UK cinemas sometime in 2017.

The opening night film, as previously announced, will be Amma Asante’s A United Kingdom, with the full festival programme set to be revealed on Thursday 1 September.