Universal to get its world premier next month

Inbetweeners actor Joe Thomas is starring in a new indie comedy film about an academic who uncovers some bombshell information.

In Universal he plays a US-based DNA expert who takes a log-cabin holiday with his girlfriend Naomi, played by Rosa Robson – one of the stars of Iain Stirling’s ITV2 sitcom Buffering. 

While there they are  interrupted by the arrival of a woman, Ricky (Kelley Mack) who’s been following Leo's research and who claims to have discovered a hidden code in the genetic material and needs his help.

He agrees, much to the chagrin of Naomi, and the  next day, the gravity of the discovery begins to dawn on the three  of them.

Thomas said: ‘When I initially began reading the script, I didn’t recognise what sort of film this was going to be

‘For the first few pages I thought it might be a romantic comedy based around a love triangle. But then the plot went completely in the other direction. The whole thing seemed so unusual and refreshing.’

Universal was directed by British film-maker Stephen Portland, who also wrote the script conscious of keeping the budget low, so set it in a single location and with a cast of just three.

It is receiving its world premiere at the famous TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles on June 21 as part of the Dances With Films festival.

Published: 29 May 2025