Everyone in the dark over Mike Leigh film

British director Mike Leigh is about to move on to his next project, but as with all his work everything is shrouded in secrecy.

Casting for the project, which will be Leigh's follow up to Vera Drake, is due to start in April but not even the film's producer knows what it will be about.

Producer Simon Channing-Williams told Screen Daily: "It's simply another Mike Leigh film.

"Beyond that, until the casting process starts and we see what mix of cast is available for Mike to work with, we won't begin to have an idea of what it's going to be about."

When actors turn up for work on a Leigh film they often have no idea what will happen. Although the director knows the story, the script is usually based on the actors' improvisation.

The same secrecy surrounded Leigh's recent West End play 2000 Years. Ahead of the premiere the play was sold out but no details were released to the press or public, only the title.

If the film follows the mould set be Leigh's previous films, such as All Or Nothing, Secrets & Lies, Life Is Sweet, the film will be about an ordinary family facing a crisis.

However, his recent films Vera Drake and Topsy-Turvy broke this mould by being costume dramas.

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