Raw, urgent and emotionally unfiltered, Wasteman arrives as one of the most striking British releases of the year. Set within the UK prison system, the film doesn’t romanticise incarceration; instead, it zooms in on survival, brotherhood and the uncomfortable question of whether the system truly rehabilitates those inside it.
To mark the release, GRM Daily sat down with stars David Jonsson and Tom Blyth at Dusty Knuckle Bakery, the East London bakery and social enterprise known for combining incredible food with real opportunities for young people rebuilding their lives.
“It’s not just about making bread here, people feel needed, accepted and inspired. It honestly felt hopeful,” Blyth shared.
Over the course of the day, the pair spoke passionately about how special the space felt, highlighting the sense of community and purpose it creates, a real-world reflection of the rehabilitation conversation at the heart of Wasteman.
What followed was an honest conversation about transformation, trust and the deeper meaning behind the title.
Raw and emotionally unfiltered, Wasteman arrives in cinemas this weekend as one of the most striking British releases of the year. Set within the UK prison system, the film doesn’t romanticise incarceration; instead, it zooms in on survival, brotherhood and the uncomfortable question of whether the system truly rehabilitates those inside it.
To mark the release, GRM Daily sat down with the film’s stars David Jonsson and Tom Blyth at Dusty Knuckle Bakery, the East London social enterprise known for its work with young people at risk of exclusion. Through its training programmes and partnerships with rehabilitation charities, the bakery provides paid employment, mentorship and real-world skills to individuals rebuilding their lives, making it a fitting backdrop for a film centred on second chances.
Though this is their first time sharing the screen, Jonsson and Blyth’s connection predates the film.
The pair first met at a fundraiser years ago, introduced by mutual contacts who sensed they’d get on. They did, and even spoke about working together in future.
When Jonsson later became attached to Wasteman, he helped bring Blyth on board.
“We wanted to make something that felt true,” Jonsson explained. “We didn’t want to make the Hollywood version of this story. We had 18 days to shoot it, so you need people you trust. Working with Tom, it was built on that trust.”
That real-life bond feeds directly into the relationship between Taylor and Dee, two men navigating prison life in very different yet deeply connected ways.
To portray Taylor authentically, Jonsson underwent a dramatic physical shift, losing between 20 and 30 pounds to reflect the toll of addiction.
“I was on about 800 calories a day for a bit,” he said. “I wanted it to feel true on screen. But I’m healthy now, that’s the important thing.”
Blyth, who plays the explosive and imposing Dee, had a very different challenge. With only three weeks’ notice before filming began, there was no time for a traditional, long-term transformation.
“I had dreams of doing the full Tom Hardy six-month transformation,” he laughed. “But the reality was three weeks.”
Instead, Blyth mirrored what his character would realistically experience inside, eating heavily processed, salty food while doing push-ups and pull-ups in his room.
“I thought, what can I actually do in three weeks? Emulate his diet. Bulk up in a way that feels real. Do what you can do in a small space.”
The result is a film that looks and feels lived-in, rather than stylised.
Given the intensity of the subject matter, stepping out of character wasn’t necessarily easy.
Jonsson admitted the emotional toll of playing Taylor, a man battling addiction and the weight of circumstance, was heavy.
“You have to let it go afterwards,” he said. “Sometimes that’s harder than others. But I was happy to say goodbye to that emotional space.”
For Blyth, filming Dee’s final scenes offered a cathartic release.
“Shooting the ending felt like saying goodbye to him,” he explained. “He’s explosive, larger than life, and there was something freeing about closing that chapter.”
While Wasteman tackles themes of prison reform and systemic failure, both actors were clear: the film isn’t trying to lecture its audience.
“I’m interested in making work that’s political without being preachy,” Blyth said. “We just want to reflect life honestly. People can then make their own choices about how they feel.”
Jonsson echoed that sentiment, emphasising that the film is just one perspective, a slice of reality, not a definitive statement.
“If people take anything away, it’s just to think about rehabilitation,” he said. “We all pay into this system. We should care about whether it actually works.”
The film’s title carries cultural weight.
Growing up in East London, Jonsson is well aware of how casually the term has been thrown around for years. But in this context, it’s deliberately provocative.
“No one’s a wasteman,” he said. “Who are we to judge someone as a waste of space? Prison is meant to rehabilitate. The question is, does it?”
Blyth added that the film subtly explores how systems can label people as disposable, locking them away without properly supporting their return to society.
Ahead of the film’s UK release, Jonsson and Blyth joined director Cal McMau for a special London photocall in front of a bespoke mural created by East London street artist Jim Vision.
Inspired by the film and its partnership with Switchback, the artwork went beyond promotion, incorporating real-life statistics around rehabilitation and re-entry into society. The mural highlighted how the initiative has supported over 3,000 young men as they prepare to leave prison and rebuild their lives.Turning the film’s themes into a public piece of art, the moment served as a powerful reminder that Wasteman isn’t just entertainment, it’s part of a wider conversation about second chances.
The setting for our conversation felt fitting. Dusty Knuckle works closely with rehabilitation initiatives, offering young people the opportunity to rebuild their life skills, purpose, and community.
Spending the day there brought the film’s themes into sharp focus.
“Humans need to feel needed,” Blyth reflected. “Places like this give people purpose — they’re contributing, they’re accepted. It’s hopeful.”
For Jonsson, imagining Taylor in a space like this felt powerful.
“If Taylor were real,” he said, “this is somewhere he could come. I don’t think he’d have imagined that kind of opportunity.”
Buy your tickets to see Wasteman in cinemas now. You can also watch the full trailer here.
A film about survival, stigma and second chances, Wasteman doesn’t offer easy answers, but it demands the conversation.
Let us know your thoughts after watching.
Interview conducted by Max Wood.