Magus Films is set to bring Empire of Lies to UK audiences with a theatrical and digital release landing on 27 March, marking a significant step in the company’s growing move into hands-on distribution for select independent features. Tense, intimate, and psychologically charged, the film centres on a man whose version of events begins to fracture in real time, leaving viewers to question what’s true, what’s constructed, and what’s being withheld.
Empire of Lies follows David “Dave” Harris, a reclusive figure living on the fringes of society who agrees to sit down for an interview about the unresolved murder of his daughter. What begins as an attempt to revisit a cold case quickly becomes something more unsettling. As the interrogation tightens, Dave’s long-held belief that he was framed by the state starts to unravel, blurring the line between truth, obsession and self-deception.
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At the heart of the film is Joseph Millson, whose screen credits include Casino Royale, The Last Kingdom, 24: Live Another Day and Banished. In a two-hander structure that relies heavily on performance and pressure, Millson anchors the story with a portrayal that shifts between vulnerability, suspicion and moral ambiguity, keeping the audience close to Dave even as his certainty begins to slip.
The film is written by Matthew Hope and Joseph Millson, and directed by Matthew Hope, known for The Veteran and All the Devil’s Men. With Empire of Lies, Hope pivots into a more contained, performance-led style, leaning into psychological tension while continuing his exploration of paranoia, institutional mistrust and the grey areas of morality.
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The release also signals a wider strategic moment for Magus Films, with Empire of Lies positioned as the company’s first theatrical and digital title under its expanded UK distribution approach. As part of the rollout, Magus Films has also facilitated the attachment of international sales agent Exit 44 Entertainment, which will represent the film worldwide.
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Empire of Lies arrives in UK cinemas and on digital platforms from 27 March.
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Image provided by Strike Media
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