Joe Locke Takes A Dark Turn In New Gay Thriller Black Church Bay
Image: Image: Film Still Black Church Bay
Heartstopper star Joe Locke is leaving the wholesome world of Charlie Spring behind, taking a decidedly darker turn in the new queer mystery thriller Black Church Bay.
A new clip from the film has been released following its world premiere at the Zurich Film Festival on September 25, giving fans another look at Locke alongside Weekend star Tom Cullen.
Written and directed by queer Welsh-Irish filmmaker Rhys Marc Jones, Black Church Bay follows Barry (Cullen), a teacher living in a remote Welsh coastal village who begins an affair with his openly gay student Jasper (Locke).
But when Jasper suddenly disappears without a trace, Barry finds his closely guarded private life at risk of being exposed as the community searches for answers.
According to the Zurich Film Festival, the film explores the generational differences in how people deal with their sexuality and the consequences this can have on their lives.
Joe Locke takes on darker role in Black Church Bay
The film marks another major departure for Locke, who shot to international fame playing Charlie Spring opposite Kit Connor’s Nick Nelson in Netflix’s Heartstopper, which became a global success following its 2022 debut.
Locke has since joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Billy Maximoff in Agatha All Along and made his Broadway debut in Sweeney Todd.
Black Church Bay sees the 22-year-old actor move firmly into more mature territory.
Director Rhys Marc Jones told Attitude that Locke had always been his “first choice for Jasper”.
“We needed an actor with enough skill and presence to haunt the rest of the narrative – who could layer insecurity beneath confidence and play both to and against archetype,” he said.
“Luckily for us he said yes, and he’s fantastic in it!”
The performance has already earned Locke a nomination for Best Performance in a Male Role at the Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival, alongside co-star Cullen.
Following its Zurich premiere, Black Church Bay will screen at the Busan International Film Festival before its UK premiere at the BFI London Film Festival in October.
An Australian release date has not yet been announced.
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