Rupert Friend has signed on to star alongside Lily James in the upcoming emotional thriller Photo Booth, marking the feature directorial debut of Australian sibling filmmakers Spencer and Lloyd Harvey.

Described as a taut and emotionally gripping story that unpacks themes of love, ambition, and family, Photo Booth features Friend in the role of Ben, a gifted portrait artist who lives under the shadow of both his famous father and his successful wife, played by James. As Ben struggles with his identity and creative stagnation, he finds himself pulled into a fraught triangle, his marriage strained by his wife's desperation to start a family, and further complicated when he impregnates a young waitress, portrayed by Raffey Cassidy.

Production is set to kick off this October, with filming taking place across Australia and London. Photo Booth also has a screenplay by the Harvey brothers, who won the 2016 Academy Nicholl Fellowship from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The film is produced by Cathy Konrad via her Tree Line Films, Lily James and Gala Gordon through their Parodos Productions, and Sarah Shaw and Anna McLeish of Carver Films.

Friend, known for roles in Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Young Victoria, and the upcoming Wes Anderson film The Phoenician Scheme, adds further prestige to the already high-calibre ensemble.