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The highly anticipated third series of Some Girls is now in pre-production. Jassa stars in the hit BBC Three comedy as Rocky. Jassa announced the news via social media, posting a photo of a read-through script title page on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Some Girls is set to shoot from late June through to early August. Broadcast dates are yet to be announced.
Last Sunday Jassa attended the 2014 Empire Awards. The ceremony also marked Empire Magazine's 25th anniversary.
"I love Empire! It's a proper fan magazine. They define success based on what a film sets out to achieve and I love that. Comedy, action, indies, drama, they all make cinema the awesome thing that it is and Empire gets that. And the readers - including me! - decide who wins! It's all about the fans." - Jassa
Tom Cruise, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Hugh Jackman and Emma Thompson were among the plethora of A-list stars that descended on London's Grosvenor House to celebrate.
Arguably the highlight of Jassa's night was when Tom Cruise shook his hand en route to collect his 'Legend Of Our Lifetime' award.
Colton's Big Night, a short film co-produced by Jassa has been announced as one of the winning contributions to the crowd created feature film, 50 Kisses. The movie incorporates multiple stories, all connected through a Valentine's kiss.
50 Kisses had its world premiere at Genesis Cinema on Thursday 13th February. Over 500 people attended the event, complete with red carpet, awards and after party. Unfortunately Jassa was in New York at the time and was unable to attend.
"It is a truly unique piece of quite frankly, outstanding cinema and I am afraid something few big budget directors could ever achieve with such grace, warmth and soul and substance." - Alex Heaton, IMDb
Jassa co-produced the segment Colton's Big Night with director Sebastian Solberg and co-producer Katya Rogers. The film received a Best Production Team award. Daniel Powell starred as the eponymous hero of the film.
Jassa recently appeared in Issue 10 of Rollacoaster magazine, modelling Louis Vuitton.
Rollacoaster is a luxury triennial, which offers a colourful, industry-leading perspective on all things fashion, beauty, music, film, TV and youth culture.
Retailed in WHSmith and newsstands across the UK - as well as in select stores internationally - Rollacoaster is also handed out in boutiques across London during Fashion Week and London Collections: Men.
Jassa is now represented in LA by Susan Calogerakis (SC Management).
His UK agent is Will Hollinshead at Independent Talent.
For details about how to get in touch with either Jassa's agent or manager please visit the Contact page.
Jassa stars as David, battling Goliath, in tonight's episode of The Bible - Homeland - on Channel 5, 9pm.
The five-part Emmy-nominated series premiered in the UK last weekend with 1.3 million viewers.
Filmed in Morocco last year The Bible is executive produced by husband and wife team Mark Burnett (Survivor, The Apprentice, The Voice) and Roma Downey (Touched by an Angel). The series is scored by Hans Zimmer (Gladiator, The Dark Knight, Inception) and Lorne Balfe (Iron Man, Rush, Captain Phillips).
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Jassa stars alongside Martin Sheen in feature length drama The Whale this Christmas on BBC One. The 90 minute film tells the true story of nautical survival following the sinking of the whaleship Essex, the event that inspired Herman Merville's classic Moby-Dick.
Martin Sheen stars as Old Thomas Nickerson, who tells a story of his life as a cabin boy on the ill-fated voyage. Jassa plays young Nickerson's colleague and unlikely friend Owen Coffin, nephew of the ship's captain.
Alrick Riley directs a cast led by Martin Sheen as the elder Nickerson, along with Jonas Armstrong (Robin Hood, The Edge of Tomorrow) as First Mate Owen Chase, Adam Rayner (Tyrant, The Hunted) as Captain Pollard, Paul Kaye (Game Of Thrones, It's All Gone Pete Tong) as Joy, David Gyasi (Cloud Atlas, Interstellar) as Peterson, Jolyon Coy (The Hollow Crown) as Lawrence, John Boyega (Attack the Block) as Bond and Ferdinand Kingsley (Dracula Untold) as Hendricks, and introducing Charles Furness as the young Tom Nickerson.
The action-packed narrative follows Nickerson as, against all odds, he comes through the worst that nature throws at him, growing up fast in the process. He faces the destructive force of sea storms, the power of whales, the brutal desolation of the sun and sea after the shipwreck, and finally, the grim realities of dark deeds as his only means of survival.
With breathtaking underwater shots and specialist equipment used to create storm scenes, The Whale beautifully captures the Essex caught in the treacherous sea storm.
Made by BBC Factual Productions with Animal Planet, The Whale is BBC executive produced by Eamon Hardy and Ruth Caleb. Mike Dormer is the producer. For Animal Planet, The Whale is executive produced by Mick Kaczorowski.
The Whale will air on BBC One at 9pm on Sunday 22nd December.
On location with Alrick Riley (left) and Sundance award winning cinematographer David Raedeker (centre)
Martin Sheen as Old Tom Nickerson and Jonas Armstrong as First Mate Chase
Jassa as Owen Coffin fights for his life as the storm thrashes the Essex
Airing 9pm Monday 25th November, Jassa guest stars in Threads of Silk and Gold, the fifth episode in the second series of BBC One's BAFTA nominated series Ripper Street.
Investigations into the brutal slaying of a Telegraph Boy lift the lid on a vice racket run from the offices of the GPO. The telegraph ledger leads Reid to the heart of the one of the city’s most august financial institutions, Barings Bank.
Jassa recently described his character Vincent Featherwell in an interview with Inside Media Track:
On the surface Vincent is a street smart telegraph boy trying to make his way in the world. But that’s not the whole truth. He is an exceptionally confident leader with much bigger plans for the future. He is the driving force in the relationship between him and his colleague/lover David (Alfie Stewart). He has absolute strength and isn’t afraid to stick his finger up to society.
Jassa appears alongside Mathew Macfadyen (Anna Karenina, Spooks, Robin Hood, Frost/Nixon), Jerome Flynn (Game of Thrones) and Adam Rothenberg (Elementary).
Also starring as a guest lead in Jassa's episode is Andrew Tiernan. Perhaps best known for playing the hunchback Ephialtes in Zach Snyder's 300, Andrew has starred in numerous iconic films including Roman Polanski's The Pianist.
BAFTA nominated series Ripper Street returns to BBC One on Monday 28th October at 9pm.
East London. 1890. The long shadow of Jack The Ripper may be receding, but the job of preventing Whitechapel from descending into hell has never been harder for Detective Inspector Edmund Reid and his loyal deputies Detective Sergeant Bennet Drake and Captain Homer Jackson. As the century enters its final decade, recession stalks Great Britain, its preeminent role in the world is under threat. And nowhere is the bloated British Empire’s problems felt more keenly than in its dark heart: the East End of London.
Jassa guest leads as telegraph boy Vincent Featherwell in Threads of Silk and Gold, Episode Five of the new series.
Jassa has been announced as an Ambassador alongside Simon Callow and Jack Monroefor Child Poverty Action Group, the charity's first ever Ambassadors.
'I am very proud to be an Ambassador for Child Poverty Action Group. A child is the definition of potential. Whether or not they flourish is determined by opportunity. CPAG speaks out for children in poverty so that every child growing up in the UK has the chance to succeed in life.' - Jassa
CPAG is the leading national charity working to end poverty among children, young people and families in the UK.
The charity approached Jassa to become an Ambassador after he attended An Audience with Simon Callow - an exclusive drinks reception at the House of Lords in support of CPAG.
'It was an honour to be invited to such an event, and within such a prestigious setting. I attended as a fan of Dickens' and left having gained an insight into the parallels that exist between his incredible work and that of CPAG. I'm humbled to now be able to be a small part of that." - Jassa
For more information about Child Poverty Action Group please visit www.cpag.org.uk | Jassa's Profile
The Bible has been nominated for Outstanding Miniseries or Movie at the 65th Emmy Awards. The ten-part miniseries, a huge ratings for the History Channel, was executive produced by Mark Burnett and Roma Downey. The series has also been nominated in the Sound Editing and Sound Mixing categories. The Bible was scored by Hans Zimmer.
Jassa stars in The Bible as David, famed for slaying Goliath.
The Bible will broadcast in the UK on Channel 5 this autumn.
Other nominees in the Miniseries or Movie category include USA Network's Political Animals, Sundance Channel's Top of the Lake, HBO's Phil Spector, HBO's Behind the Candelabra and FX Network's American Horror Story: Asylum.
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Jassa will be starring alongside Mathew Macfadyen (Anna Karenina, Spooks, The Pillars of the Earth, Robin Hood, Frost/Nixon), Jerome Flynn (Game of Thrones, Soldier Soldier) and Adam Rothenberg (Elementary, Law & Order, Mad Money) as an episode lead in the highly anticipated second series of BBC One's BAFTA nominated Ripper Street.
Set in Victorian Whitechapel in London's East End, in the aftermath of the infamous Jack the Ripper murders, Ripper Street marks Jassa's second period piece this year. In May he wrapped on a six week shoot in Malta for BBC One film The Whale, set to broadcast late this year / early 2014. The Whale tells the true story of the sinking of the whaleship Essex in 1820.
Speaking about the second series, Ripper Street creator and writer Richard Warlow told the BBC:
"I am enormously grateful to have been given the opportunity to return to 'H' Division once more and will be working tirelessly to ensure that those who have joined us each week will find ever more compelling crime-fighting thrills down on Ripper Street the second time around.
The series will move forward into the 1890s: the death rattle of a century coming to a close, the labour pains of a modern world on the rise.
It is this sense of climax and calamity that, week by week, our heroes will confront with conviction and heroism."
Ripper Street is due to return to BBC One in early 2014.
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Jassa is currently producing Modern Man, a short film for the Virgin Media Shorts competition. Virgin Media Shorts is the biggest, most high profile short film competition in the UK. There are 13 shortlisted films and 1 grand prize winner who receives £30,000 in film funding and BFI mentoring.
The film is directed by Jassa's long term collaborator Sebastian Solberg.
The strength of the script and the passion with which Jassa and Seb approached the project attracted an incredible cast and crew. Modern Man is written by shortlisted Virgin Media Shorts 2012 finalist Simon Guerrier and the cinematographer is drama and VFX specialist Dale McCready (Doctor Who, Merlin, Silk).
Sean Knopp (Doctor Who, The Bible), Ramanique Ahluwalia (American Academy of Dramatic Arts), Nicola Posener (Disney's Life Bites, Dawn of the Dragonslayer) and Nathan Bryon (Some Girls) all star in the 2 minute 20 second film.
More details about the film will be announced soon. For more information visit Modern Man's official Facebook page or follow the film on Twitter @ModernManFilm.
Jassa has been confirmed to star as Owen Coffin in BBC One film The Whale. The 90 minute one off is to be helmed by Alrick Riley (Hunted, Hustle, Spooks). John Chapman (The Street), Ruth Caleb (Four Last Songs, Beyond The Gates) are exec producing for BBC. Mike Dormer (New Tricks, Blue Murder) is producing for BBC. Mick Kaczorowski is senior exec producing for Discovery Channel / Animal Planet in the US.
The Whale will tell the true story of the American whaleship, Essex. During her lifetime the Essex gained the reputation of being a "lucky" ship but she is best known for being attacked and sunk by a sperm whale in the southern Pacific Ocean in 1820. This tragic incident served as inspiration for Herman Melville's 1851 novel, Moby-Dick.
Jassa will star as Owen Coffin, sailor and cousin of the ship's captain George Pollard, Jr, alongside John Boyega (Attack the Block, My Murder) who will play Steward William Bond.
The Whale shoots in Malta for five weeks starting this April.
Read more: The Bible - Becoming David - Part II
Read more: The Bible - Becoming David - Part I
Read more: Jassa to slay Goliath in Bible epic
The Bible airs every Sunday at 8/7c on History.
The Bible premiered across America last Sunday with 27 million people tuning in. Jassa continues with how he came to be Young David.
Getting The Part
The day I got the call I was actually waiting to hear back from another project. My agent called and said she had some good news and some bad news. I went with the bad first – I hadn’t got the project I was up for. Then the good news. All I remember hearing was: “would like to offer you the part of Young David in The Bible”. It took me a moment to register what was happening. It had been several weeks since I'd auditioned for The Bible and, assuming I hadn't got the part, I'd genuinely forgotten about it. Before I knew it I had a wig fitting in London, a car at my front door and I was on a plane to Morocco that Sunday.
The Journey
I met Laurie Calvert (Young Jonathan) at Heathrow. We had separate seats on our flight to Casablanca and I spent most of it listening to Hans Zimmer's soundtrack from The Prince of Egypt. I still couldn't quite believe I was to be a part of a production he was scoring. Laurie and I got to know each other while waiting for our transfer. The more we spoke the more excited we became. It then transpired we were among only seven people on the prop plane to Ouarzazate, the film capital of Morocco. Taking advantage of the almost empty plane we settled down in Business Class. We didn't think our luck could get any better when the pilots came out and asked us if we'd like to join them in the cockpit. We were like children living out our wildest fantasy.
First Day in Ouarzazate
Ouarzazate has been the home to numerous incredible productions. Gladiator, The Mummy, Lawrence of Arabia and Kingdom of Heaven were all shot on locations in and around the city, nicknamed The Door Of The Desert. Being the door to the desert I thought I'd have some time to acclimatise. Nope! I was straight off to the very impressive studios for hair and make up tests and costume fittings.
Read more: The Bible - Becoming David - Part I
Read more: Jassa to slay Goliath in Bible epic
The Bible airs every Sunday at 8/7c on History.
The Bible premiered on Sunday night with 27 MILLION viewers. The viewing figures makes the epic miniseries the #1 cable entertainment telecast of the year. #TheBible was also the top trend on Twitter leading into the premiere.
Jassa stars as David in the upcoming episode, Homeland, which premieres this Sunday.
Read more: Jassa to slay Goliath in Bible epic
The Bible airs every Sunday at 8/7c on History.
With epic miniseries The Bible due to premiere across America this Sunday, Jassa discusses how he came to be Young David.
The Audition
Fittingly my audition took place at the American Church on Tottenham Court Road, but because the show was so high profile there wasn't really much information available. The brief bits of script I had were from very early drafts. It was also unlike anything I'd ever been up for before. I was at a loss for how to deliver the dialogue in a way that seemed both convincing but also in keeping with the scale of the project. That's when Brad Pitt came to my rescue. I watched Troy the night before my audition, paying particular attention to performances. That process really helped me overcome my inhibitions and give myself fully to the scenes.
On the day of the audition I tried to keep focused but I was very aware that I was the first person they were seeing. I had to make an impression or else I'd easily be forgotten. Once I got into the room though, everything changed. It was one of the most rewarding casting experiences I've ever had. I was introduced to director Tony Mitchell and producer Michael Waterhouse and we worked on the scenes for almost half an hour. I felt like I was rehearsing for the role, not auditioning for it. In fact when I left I actually called my agent to check whether that was the case. It wasn't.
The original shoot dates that came with the brief passed. I'd heard nothing. I assumed I hadn't got the part so I forgot about it. It wasn't long before I got my reminder.
Look out for The Bible - Becoming David - Part II, coming soon.
The Bible premieres this Sunday in America, 3.3.13 at 8/7c on History.
On Wednesday 30th January, Jassa attended an exclusive drinks reception at the House of Lords in support of one of the leading child poverty charities in the UK: Child Poverty Action Group.
The drinks reception was followed by internationally-renowned actor Simon Callow's stirring evocation of Dickens as a social reformer, both in his life and his work. Having written no less than thirteen books, Simon's latest publication, Charles Dickens and the Great Theatre of the World, shows an intricate knowledge of and a heartfelt passion for Dickens' work.
After receiving his invitation Jassa began reading the aforementioned biography.
"It gives fascinating insight into the life of one of the greatest storytellers in our language. What I find particularly fascinating, as a young and aspiring actor, is that I'm finding myself drawing parallels between my own formative years and those of Dickens, and in the process learning more about myself as well as the great author. Unsurprising I suppose in some respects as, for a while at least, Dickens looked destined to become an actor himself. But nevertheless I was shocked to discover how much I could relate to the story of this incredible man. And Simon's style is so engaging that you discover yourself reading as though it were a novel by Dickens himself!" - Jassa
Within the prestigious setting of the House of Lords, guests obtained a fascinating insight into the parallels that exist between the work and interests of Dickens, the work of the Child Poverty Action Group and the most current issues relating to child poverty in the UK.
For more information and to donate to Child Poverty Action Group please visit www.cpag.org.uk
Jassa stars as David in History Channel's upcoming epic mini-series The Bible.
Earlier this year Jassa flew out to Morocco to film on The Bible, an epic ten-part historical drama series. It will broadcast on the History Channel (US) from 3rd March 2013. Global distribution, including the UK, will follow. Jassa will star in the battle against Goliath and the Philistines as Young David.
"This is probably the most important book in mankind, regardless of your beliefs or religious affiliation," History Channel president Nancy Dubuc told The Hollywood Reporter. "This series will bring the historical stories of the Bible to life for a new generation."
Shooting on location in Morocco the series combines live action with cutting-edge CGI to retell stories ranging from Noah’s Ark to Exodus to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. The series is an epic and gritty portrayal and will have broad appeal.
Hans Zimmer (Gladiator, The Dark Knight, Inception) has composed the score. Tony Mitchell (Supervolcano, Flood) directs [Jassa's episodes] and executive producers are Mark Burnett (Survivor, The Apprentice, The Voice) and his wife, actress Roma Downey.
“I screamed down the phone when I got the call offering me the part. It’s a magnificent project to be a part of and with so many amazing people involved. Hans Zimmer is composing! My iPod is filled with soundtracks to films like Batman Begins, Inception, The Dark Knight and The Prince of Egypt! I was listening to them all on the flight out to Morocoo. And of course there’s the role, David. Such an iconic figure and such an iconic story. To be given the opportunity to portray him is, as an actor, overwhelming. But I must admit the kid in me was simply shouting out, “Morocco! I get to slay Goliath?! And fight battles in the desert?! Combat training?!” - Jassa
The Bible is among History Channel’s biggest ventures to date.
The series is using the New International Version, the translation preferred by evangelical Christian leaders, and the New Revised Standard Version. A committee of theologians and scholars was assembled to consult on the series.
The Bible offers rare depth and the chance to create a “legacy” project, said Burnett, “I could be 80 or 90 and it could still be on television.”
More information about The Bible and Jassa’s involvement will be announced later in the year.