Craig Fairbrass is returning as Eddie Franks in Villain 2, with the actor teasing a more intense and emotionally demanding follow-up to the acclaimed 2020 crime thriller.
Production on the sequel is now well under way, with Fairbrass confirming that filming has reached the halfway point.
Speaking exclusively to Radio Times, the actor admitted that the shoot was proving both physically and emotionally demanding.
"It's absolutely – I'm on the verge of swearing – brutal," he said.
"We're halfway through now. Obviously I'm in every day, so it's long hours and it's draining, because it's physical and mental."
He noted that the film is "a different animal" to the Rise of the Footsoldier movies, in which he stars as notorious real-life Essex criminal Pat Tate.
"Villain was more of a drama-thriller. There's a lot more going on psychologically and mentally – big scenes, big dialogue stuff, a lot of very emotional stuff."
Fairbrass starred in the original film as Eddie, a recently released convict who returns home intending to reconnect with his family and restore his brother's struggling pub, only to find himself drawn back into London's criminal underworld.
Fairbrass revealed that the filmmakers spent around 18 months developing Villain 2, cycling through drafts and writers' rooms rather than rushing to capitalise on the success of the first film.
"Oh God, I can't tell you," he said. "Eighteen months of drafts and scripts, forwards, backwards and forwards, writers' rooms, sitting round, getting it right – because you've got to get it right.
"As I always say, that's the holy grail: the script. It's all the beats, everything."
But while the second film is still in production, discussions are already taking place about whether Eddie's story – and the wider world around him – could continue beyond the sequel.
View Green Video on the source websiteAsked if he could envisage a future in which the character returned for further instalments, Fairbrass was enthusiastic about the possibilities.
"Quite easily, yeah," he said. "The writers and the guys involved in this have got great ideas.
"It's incredible what comes out of those meetings. We're halfway through number two, but there is talk of expanding the story because you've got a nucleus of characters, there's a lot of conflict, and it's very Sopranos-esque – this whole world.
"I love playing Eddie because he's got so much heart. His morals and principles are grounded and real, but if you cross him, he is a dangerous man. Family comes first."
The prospect would give Fairbrass another ongoing crime franchise alongside Rise of the Footsoldier.
But the actor suggested his current ambitions extend beyond simply continuing those established roles, revealing that he is also developing other projects of his own.
"I'm sort of developing other stuff now – other scripts," he said. "It's a very exciting time. I'm trying to get more projects and small independent films made.
"I love working in the independent film arena. It's always something I wanted to do."
For now, however, his focus remains firmly on completing Villain 2 – a sequel which, if Fairbrass's comments are anything to go by, could turn out to be the beginning of something considerably bigger.
Rise of the Footsoldier: Retribution is now showing in UK cinemas.
Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
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