‘Dept. Q’ and ‘House of the Dragon’ Breakouts Aaron McVeigh and Emily Carey to Star in Brit Thriller ‘Stray’ From Director David Blair (EXCLUSIVE)

Rising stars Aaron McVeigh and Emily Carey are set to star in “Stray,” the latest feature film from BAFTA-winning director David Blair.

Written by Darren James King, “Stray” is a billed as a “gritty, character-driven British thriller set on a London housing estate ruled by fear and manipulation.” The film follows Dylan, a fatherless 17-year-old desperate for belonging, who is groomed by a violent local kingpin offering protection, power, and a warped sense of family, pulling him into a brutal struggle between loyalty, survival, and the life he may never escape.

McVeigh was recently discovered as a standout new talent in Netflix’s crime series “Dept. Q” and will play Dylan in his first leading role in a feature. Carey, who’s known for her role in “House of the Dragon” and has just wrapped production on Netflix’s “Geek Girl,” stars opposite him in a key role.

“I was attracted to the story originally because of the misfortune and heartbreak that grows from the collision of emotional famine and ambiguous guidance; a coming-of-age story under siege,” said Blair. “I was enticed, also, by the relationships in the movie which deliver pure dramatic voltage; intimate, unbalanced and precarious. Begging the question, is escape ever truly possible once love and loyalty are bound to brutality?”

A two-time BAFTA TV winner with a storied career across TV and film spanning several decades, Blair’s catalog of titles as director includes “Takin’ Over the Asylum” and “The Street,” while he’s worked with the likes of David Tennant, Olivia Colman, Timothy Spall and Christopher Eccleston. “Stray” marks his latest exploration of morally complex, socially grounded British storytelling.

“I am so honoured to be a part of this project,” said McVeigh. “The exploration of humanity, masculinity and the vulnerability of youth is so important now more than ever and I look forward to working with Emily and David.”

Added Carey: “I was drawn to Jenny due to her grounded magnetism. ‘Stray’ is such a raw and fragile coming of age story, set against the backdrop of a dangerous high stakes/high reward environment, and this gives the film such an interesting pace. The script stayed with me for some time after I first read it, and I’m very excited to be on board with this incredible team of creatives.”

Added King: “I wrote this story to explore how mental health is quietly shaped, and sometimes wounded, when young minds are controlled and conditioned before they even understand themselves,”

“Stray” — which is currently in development, with further casting and production details to be announced — is produced by Djonny Chen of Silent D Pictures (“High Wire,” “Finding My Voice”), with casting by Ajo Kacmar of IO Casting (“High Wire,” “Dr Campbell”).

McVeigh is repped by Maryam Hunwick (Hunwick Associates) & Laura Stokes (The Artists Partnership).
Carey is repped by Curtis Brown Group.