Synopsis
Spanning the late 1980s and early 90s, Origins is the prequel that finally explains how Tony Tucker (Terry Stone), Craig Rolfe (Roland Manookian) and Pat Tate (Craig Fairbrass) came together. Tucker returns from the Falklands War in 1982 a bitter and angry man, and channels that aggression into the security business and drug dealing across Essex.
The film traces the partnership through the explosion of the rave scene, the proliferation of ecstasy, and the friendships, betrayals, and rivalries that would define the firm. Bernard O’Mahoney (Vinnie Jones) – the real-life head of security at Raquels in Basildon – is a major figure.
Production notes
Directed by Nick Nevern (who previously starred in the fourth film) from a script by Andrew Loveday, this was originally pitched as the final entry in the series. Vinnie Jones joined the cast for the first time, alongside Keith Allen as Dave Simms and Michelle Collins as Mandy Williams. Newcomer George Russo (later a recurring face in the franchise) appears as Joey Waller.
Trivia
- Vinnie Jones plays Bernard O’Mahoney, a real person who worked the doors at Raquels nightclub in Basildon and later wrote books about the Essex Boys era.
- The real Tony Tucker was a Falklands veteran, a detail the film leans on heavily.
- P.H. Moriarty (The Long Good Friday, Lock Stock) appears as Ian Jarvis.
- Katie Jarvis (Fish Tank, EastEnders) and Bronson Webb (Game of Thrones) feature.
- Was billed at the time as the ‘final’ Rise of the Footsoldier film. It wasn’t.