Lauren McQueen to Lead Psychological Drama Crack’d Ahead of 2027 Festival Premiere

Lauren McQueen stars as a troubled actress whose reality begins to fracture in Michael J. Long’s Crack’d.

Lauren McQueen to Lead Psychological Drama Crack’d as Liverpool’s “Scouse New Wave” Continues to Grow

Lauren McQueen, recently seen as Maid Marian in the MGM+ and Lionsgate series Robin Hood, has been cast in the lead role of the upcoming British psychological drama Crack’d, the latest feature from Liverpool filmmaker Michael J. Long.

According to Variety, the production is currently nearing picture lock, with a first-look image released as the film prepares for its festival journey ahead of a planned international premiere in early 2027.

Set and filmed in Liverpool, Crack’d follows Chloe, a once-promising young actress whose life begins to spiral as she becomes trapped within a destructive cycle of addiction, exploitation, violence, and psychological collapse. As her grip on reality weakens, the film reportedly shifts from grounded social drama into increasingly unsettling psychological territory.

McQueen leads a cast that also includes Robbie O’Neill (Adolescence, Enola Holmes 3) and Jodie McNee (The Gathering), alongside a roster of local Liverpool talent.

Writer-director Michael J. Long describes Crack’d as a film that evolves from gritty realism into something far more fractured and psychologically intense.

“The performance-led feature serves as the flagship title for a new regional movement I am spearheading: ‘The Scouse New Wave,’” Long said. “Our mission is to champion raw, character-driven storytelling with a distinctly Northern, working-class perspective.”

While Crack’d is being positioned primarily as a psychological drama, its themes of identity breakdown, addiction, trauma, and fractured reality may also appeal to genre audiences who gravitate toward psychologically driven storytelling.

The film is being executive produced by Marc Koebernick, Michael J. Long, and AJ Jones, who also stars in the project. Production comes from Liverpool-based Funk Films, operated by Long and Tom Sidney, in association with Zope Studios. Additional producers include Paddy Rowan and Kayleigh Ann Coleman, while Bobby Schofield and Shaun Fagan serve as associate producers.

Behind the camera, Ben Molyneux-Chan serves as director of photography.

Crack’d marks Long’s second feature following his 2024 debut Baby Brother, which premiered at the Oldenburg Film Festival and earned the Hans Ohlms Award.

Although details surrounding the film’s broader plot remain under wraps, the combination of psychological themes, character-focused storytelling, and Long’s commitment to showcasing authentic working-class voices could position Crack’d as one of the more intriguing British independent productions heading into the 2027 festival season.

For horror and thriller fans, the project’s emphasis on psychological fracture and an unraveling sense of reality may be worth keeping an eye on as more footage and festival announcements emerge.

Crack’d is currently targeting an international festival premiere in early 2027.