From Silver Screen to Director’s Chair: Harris Dickinson’s New Creative Frontier
British actor Harris Dickinson (Triangle of Sadness, The Iron Claw) is trading scripted lines for shot compositions as he prepares to launch his first feature film as writer-director. The 28-year-old’s project Urchin, currently in post-production, promises a raw exploration of societal neglect through the eyes of a troubled drifter played by Fear the Walking Dead alum Frank Dillane.
A Vision Years in the Making
Dickinson revealed to Variety that Urchin tackles mental health crises and systemic failures: “It’s about people falling through society’s cracks – their resilience when institutions abandon them”. The BBC-developed film will premiere at Berlin’s European Film Market this month through sales agent Charades.
Double Duty: Acting While Creating
The multi-hyphenate artist isn’t slowing his acting career despite new responsibilities:
- Recently won Santa Barbara Film Festival’s Virtuoso Award for erotic drama Babygirl opposite Nicole Kidman
- Earns praise for wrestling biopic The Iron Claw (2023) as David Von Erich
- BAFTA-nominated for FX’s mystery series A Murder at the End of the World
Industry Reactions
Dickinson’s unforced intensity makes him magnetic
, noted The Hollywood Reporter about his Babygirl performance. Colleague Frank Dillane describes their collaboration on Urchin: Harris brings an actor’s sensitivity to directing – he understands emotional truth before technical perfection.
What’s Next for the Renaissance Man?
| Project | Role | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Urchin | Director/Writer | Post-production |
| Blitz | Actor (Jack) | Theatrical release 2024 |
| The Souvenir Part III* | Actor (Pete) | Rumored development |
