“I’m a strong woman. I’m not ashamed. And I am telling you the truth.” Sony Pictures UK has revealed the official tariler for the film Prima Facie, an adaptation of the Tony-award winning stage play of the same name that played in London and NYC in the past few years. This just premiered at the Toronto Film Festival (TIFF 2026) a few weeks ago – though the reviews were mostly bad, saying it’s a lackluster and uninteresting adaptation that plays like a TV movie. Prima Facie follows Tessa, an ambitious defense lawyer. She expertly represents her clients, including those who are accused of sexual assault. However, she learns the law does not provide justice after being sexually assaulted by a coworker. Starring Cynthia Erivo as the barrister Tessa Ensler. TIFF adds: “Backed by a magnificent supporting cast that includes Daniel Ings, Elizabeth Dulau, and Simon Russell Beale, Erivo is at once devastating and inspiring in this dauntingly complex role. ‘Prima facie’ is a Latin expression meaning ‘based on first impression,’ and this hard-hitting, intelligent film shows just how unreliable initial assessments can be.” This is a story that needs to be told and we need to see how broken the justice system is, but I’m just not sure this movie is good enough to shake things up.
Here’s the official UK trailer (+ poster) for Susanna White’s film Prima Facie, direct from YouTube:
From TIFF: “Having risen from a working-class background to a successful career in law, Tessa (Erivo) does not suffer fools. A formidable presence in the courtroom, expertly dismantling opposing arguments, uncovering vulnerabilities, and holding her adversaries to the highest standards of jurisprudence. For Tessa, the nature of a client’s alleged crime is irrelevant: she believes the legal system operates optimally when all parties are given the strongest possible representation. However, her life is turned upside down when she is sexually assaulted by a colleague, forcing her to experience first-hand just how merciless — and misogynistic — the law can be toward already-traumatized women who are merely seeking justice.“
Prima Facie is directed by British theater & TV director / filmmaker Susanna White, director of the films Love Again, The Diary of a Nobody, Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang, Our Kind of Traitor, Woman Walks Ahead previously, plus episodes of “Andor” & “The Buccaneers” most recently. The screenplay is written by Suzie Miller, based on her own award-winning stage play. Produced by Greer Simpkin, Kevin Loader, David Jowsey. This initially premiered at the 2026 Toronto Film Festival. Sony Pictures UK debuts White’s Prima Facie film in UK cinemas starting on November 13th, 2026 this fall. No US release is set yet – stay tuned.
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