Essex Boys - TV Sean is film’s premier attraction


Last Update: 08 July 2000


07 July 2000

Source: This is Essex

TV Sean is film’s premier attraction
Brought to you by the Evening Echo

Sean Bean, the star of gangster movie Essex Boys, could be at the Odeon cinema in Southend for a gala preview on Monday.

The film, which is loosely based on the murders of three drug barons in Rettendon in 1995, is due for nationwide release on July 14 and was shot extensively in Southend, Canvey and Brightlingsea.

At the big event next week actors Charlie Creed-Miles, Michael McKell and Holly Davidson will be joined by director and writer Terry Winsor and, subject to other commitments, Sean Bean.

Five years ago the bodies of drug dealers Pat Tate, Craig Rolfe and Tony Tucker, who had been shot, were found in a Range Rover near Rettendon. Two men, Jack Whomes and Mick Steele were later sent to prison for their murder.

At the time Mr Winsor said newspaper articles, including those in the Echo, prompted him to write a screenplay with producer Jeff Pope.

He said: "The newspaper article about the deaths aroused both Jeff Pope's and my interest in what was happening in Essex at the time. "Essex seemed to have become the centre of crime. That really got us going with regards to the history leading up to the images of the three guys dead in the Range Rover."

The violent thriller follows the fortunes of Billy Reynolds (Creed-Miles) who gets mixed up with a ruthless band of drug dealers led by Jason Locke (Bean).

The film, which opens with a recreation of the discovery of the bodies, was premiered in the West End before a 600-strong audience in April.

All tickets for the gala preview have been sold but the stars should be arriving between 6.45pm and 7.30pm.

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