A new crime and thriller heist movie, which was partly filmed in Kent two years ago, has finally hit select cinemas.
Scenes from David Mackenzie’s Fuze were shot at Wrotham Quarry, also known as Olley Sand Pit, in Wrotham, back in August 2024.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Major Will Tranter. Picture: Sky UK
The fast-paced film follows the chaos of an evacuation after an undetonated Second World War bomb is uncovered at a London construction site, which conveniently provides cover for a nearby bank heist.
It features Theo James, who starred in Netflix’s The Gentlemen and HBO’s The White Lotus, as Karalis, the leader of a criminal gang, and Avatar’s Sam Worthington as his right-hand man X.
The star-studded cast also includes Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Major Will Tranter, a military bomb disposal expert, and Belle’s Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Chief Superintendent Zuzana.
Set in present-day London, the film opens with the discovery of the bomb at a construction site in Paddington.
But it is in the flashbacks to Tranter’s tour of duty in Afghanistan, where the veteran officer is caught up in an IED ambush, that eagle-eyed viewers will spot the Kent filming location.
From left: Director David Mackenzie, Theo James, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Picture: Yui Mok/PA Wire
Rather than the mountains of Central Asia, Wrotham Quarry, which produces sand for the glass industry and is now part of Ferns Aggregates, stood in for the war zone.
During filming, Theo James left staff stunned after he popped into the nearby Nature’s Goods at the Nuttery Café in Ryarsh for his flat white.
Speaking to KentOnline at the time, owner Michelle Hübchen said she had just returned to the café from running an errand when she noticed a man wearing a coat despite the warm weather at the counter.
When she headed into the kitchen, one of the staff members ran over to her and told her it was James.
The former learning technologist said he told her he had looked up reviews for places nearby online when he came across the café and was curious about the pottery she also made at the site.
Staff members with actor Theo James at Nature’s Good at the Nuttery Café. Picture: Michelle Hübchen
Michelle added: “He needed a coffee, so he drove over here. He seemed in a hurry but still took the time to speak to us, take a picture and look around.
“It is quite funny, little Ryarsh will be in a film.”
James, whose character speaks with a South African accent, says he drew inspiration from the film District 9 and the villain in Lethal Weapon.
He said: “I wanted someone who was fox-like, lean, duplicitous, but charming at the same time, so you never know exactly what he is thinking, who you can trust, or what decisions he is going to make.
“Ultimately, though, you need to like the character to make him feel real in some way.”
Theo James as Karalis. Picture: Sky UK
Speaking about the blend of genres in the film, he added: “Conceptually, it was so interesting.
“It is The Hurt Locker meets The French Connection by way of Ocean’s Eleven. I love that mishmash of genres.
“It was great to be involved in conversations with David about how it would all work and evolve.”
Fuze was released in selected cinemas on April 3 and will be streaming on Sky Cinema at a later date.
