‘In the Shadows’ has begun shooting in London. It is the true story of refugee Ramla Ali, who boxed in secret and became the first Somali-British professional boxing champion. Jasmine Jobson, best known for ‘Top Boy’ and the upcoming ‘Bird’, will play the lead role in the biopic.

Finn Cole (‘Peaky Blinders’, ‘Fast & Furious 9’) will play her husband, Richard Moore, while Gershwin Eustache Jr. (‘Endor’, ‘Small Axe’) will play her boxing coach. Ramla Ali and Richard Moore are executive producers. The film is directed by Emmy and BAFTA-winning documentary filmmaker Anthony Wonke, who is making his first narrative fiction film. The screenplay is written by Ursula Rani Sarma (‘Bodkin’, ‘Delicious’), while Christopher Aune (‘Capernaum’) is the cinematographer and Kharmel Cochrane (‘A Quiet Place: Day One’, ‘Saltburn’) is handling casting.

Talking about this, Ramla Ali said, “My goal is to become an ambassador and role model for women’s boxing. To inspire other young girls who suffer from bullying and body weight problems. To send the message that through boxing, you are not only rewarded physically, but also mentally reborn. Boxing was a way for me to step out of the shadows; to express myself and inspire others, especially women, to build the confidence we all need to live a happy and healthy life.”

Director Anthony Wonke said, “There’s no doubt that Jasmine Jobson is one of Britain’s finest and most exciting actresses working today and brings incredible intelligence and emotionally raw honesty to her roles. Ramla’s story is one of perseverance and bravery against the odds and we’re so pleased to have found an actor who connects and empathises with Ramla’s story in such a deep way.”

The film is being presented by Civic Studios, a global media company that creates entertainment with social impact. Anushka Shah, CEO of Civic Studios, commented: “Ramla’s story is truly inspirational and deserves to be heard by audiences around the world. It is a story of resilience in the face of adversity, the immigrant experience, and most importantly, the perseverance of a champion boxer.”

‘In the Shadows’ goes beyond the typical sports drama to explore deeper social issues and themes of identity, belonging, family, love and faith. This poignant coming-of-age film traces Ramla’s extraordinary journey within a strict Muslim family in London’s multicultural East End, charting her quest for self-discovery and empowerment. This helped her “step out of the shadows” to claim her identity and voice amid her religious and cultural frameworks. The film also highlights the collective challenges faced by Somali-British Muslim women and similar migrant and refugee communities globally, demonstrating the power of perseverance against cultural and social barriers.

Ramla Ali’s determination and relentless desire to succeed despite all odds enabled her to overcome significant challenges, break gender barriers and shatter cultural stereotypes both inside and outside the boxing ring. Her perseverance has led her to historic accomplishments, including becoming the first boxer, male or female, to represent Somalia at the 2020 Olympic Games and winning the first-ever professional women’s boxing match in Saudi Arabia. In 2023, Ali won her first professional IBF Intercontinental title at superbantam weight at Madison Square Garden and was recognized as one of Time Magazine’s 2023 Women of the Year.

‘In the Shadows’ will be released in UK and Irish cinemas in 2025.