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Cameras are rolling on Anxious People, the highly anticipated feature adaptation of Fredrik Backman’s bestselling novel. The project has added Emmy-nominated actor Jason Segel to a cast already led by Oscar-winner Angelina Jolie and BAFTA-winner Aimee Lou Wood. The film is directed by Marc Forster (A Man Called Otto, World War Z) from a script by Oscar-nominated screenwriter David Magee, pairing proven storytelling power with star talent.
The story takes place on the day before Christmas Eve when Zara, a jaded investment banker (played by Jolie), reluctantly attends an open house. What begins as a routine property viewing quickly derails when Grace (Wood), a nervous would-be bank robber, takes the group hostage. In the chaos that follows, personal secrets spill, strangers reveal unexpected sides of themselves, and nothing goes according to plan. The premise stays true to Backman’s knack for mixing comedy with tenderness and for finding humanity in unlikely situations.
The film is produced by Fredrik Wikström Nicastro of Hope Studios and Renée Wolfe of 2DUX². Forster, Magee, and Neda Backman serve as executive producers. Financing comes from Black Bear, Hope Studios, and World Wide Word — the newly formed financing division of 2DUX². Black Bear is handling international sales, while WME Independent represents the project domestically.
What makes Anxious People especially notable is its place in film production history. The shoot is the first to make use of the newly launched Pinewood Indie Film Hub at the world-renowned Pinewood Studios. Opened in summer 2025, the Hub was designed specifically to support independent filmmaking in the UK, complementing the government’s Independent Film Tax Credit. The facility offers two fully serviced sound stages, production offices, workshops, and a “Prep Den” space for development, all powered by 100% renewable energy. Independent productions using the Hub gain access to the full Pinewood ecosystem — including equipment rental, drone photography, and post-production services — with budgets in mind.
Principal photography began in London on September 2, 2025, coinciding with the announcement of Segel joining the cast. For the actor, known for his work on the Apple TV+ comedy Shrinking and his upcoming role in Jorma Taccone’s Over Your Dead Body, the project marks a continuation of his streak of nuanced, heartfelt performances.
With a celebrated source novel, a powerhouse creative team, and a groundbreaking production setting, Anxious People looks poised to deliver both on-screen impact and off-screen significance as a flagship for Pinewood’s new indie chapter.
