National Theatre Live has confirmed the UK cinema release of The Fifth Step, the "bruisingly honest" drama starring Jack Lowden and Martin Freeman.
The stage play, written by David Ireland and directed by Finn den Hertog, sees Freeman portray James, a long-time Alcoholics Anonymous attendee who becomes a sponsor to Luka (Lowden). As Luka progresses in his journey, a confession threatens their friendship.
Following a run in Scotland last year, in which Lowden was joined by his Slow Horses co-star Sean Gilder, the production was transferred to London's West End in May, with a filmed recording of the play now confirmed for a cinema release from 27 November.
The Fifth Step sees Luka and James develop a fragile friendship based on shared experiences, with a dangerous reveal threatening the trust on which both their recoveries depend.
Billed as a "funny" and "unflinchingly honest" story about "addiction, masculinity and faith", The Fifth Step has received acclaim from critics throughout its run, with The Financial Times describing the production as "crisply funny" and "bruisingly honest".
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"It’s a tight, thought-provoking, 85-minute vehicle for two actors at the top of their game," wrote the London Evening Standard, with the publication praising Lowden and Freeman's "intense" performances as well as their "terrific chemistry".
"It is a fascinating study of men with lives out of control," wrote What'sOnStage as they shared that Lowden and Freeman "spar like champions", while TimeOut called the play "funny, weird, well-acted and provocative".
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While it will be a few months before The Fifth Step hits the big screen, Lowden will be seen once again as River Cartwright when Slow Horses returns with its fifth season, which is due to premiere on Apple TV+ on 24 September.
Based on Mick Herron's 2018 novel London Rules, the six-part season will see Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman) and his ragtag team at Slough House get embroiled in some political intrigue, with tension being escalated following a terror attack.
The Fifth Step is playing at London's @sohoplace until 26 July, with a cinema release coming on 27 November. Slow Horses season 5 premieres on Apple TV+ on 24 September.
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Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media. His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.
