Filming has begun in London for the Anthony Wonke-directed sports biopic In The Shadows, the story of refugee Ramla Ali who secretly pursued boxing to become the first Somali-British professional boxing champion.

BAFTA-winning actress Jasmine Jobson, best known for her role as Jaq in Netflix’s Top Boy, is set to portray the trailblazing Somali-British professional boxer, model, and UNICEF Ambassador in the film.

Finn Cole — who starred in Last Breath, Peaky Blinders, Fast & Furious 9 — will feature alongside Jobson as her husband, Richard Moore, in the film. Andor star Gershwyn Eustache Jr plays her boxing coach.

Ramla Ali and Richard Moore will serve as executive producers for this film directed by Emmy Award and three-time BAFTA-winning documentary filmmaker Anthony Wonke. Wonke will make his narrative fiction film debut with In the Shadows.

Anthony Wonke said, “Ramla’s story is one of perseverance and bravery against the odds and we couldn’t be more delighted to have an actor that so connects and empathises with Ramla’s story in such a profound way.”

The screenplay of In The Shadows is written by playwright and screenwriter Ursula Rani Sarma. Award-winning Christopher Aoun is the cinematographer and Kharmel Cochrane is casting for the film.

Anushka Shah, CEO of Civic Studios, which will be presenting the film, said, “Ramla’s story is truly inspiring and deserves to be heard by audiences around the world. It’s a story of perseverance in the face of adversity, the immigrant experience, and most importantly, of a champion boxer.”

True Brit Entertainment will release In The Shadows in 2025 in cinemas across the UK and Ireland, with Altitude handling International Sales.