How Tom Brittney swapped Grantchester for Hollywood
The actor recently left the role of Will Davenport in the ITV drama, but fans won't have long to wait to see him again as he stars in Netflix's Back in Action.
Tom Brittney brought Grantchester fans to tears when he bid farwell to the role of vicar Will Davenport in the ITV drama, but it won't be long before audiences will see his face again.
The actor will soon make an appearance in Netflix's hotly-anticipated thriller Back in Action, which marks Cameron Diaz's return to acting after retiring — but it also shows Brittney's decision to break into Hollywood. It's the first of several projects that Brittney has taken on since making the decision to bid farewell to the vicarage in Grantchester, and promises that there are interesting things to come.
Brittney previously explained his decision to leave Grantchester was to expand his career and explore new and interesting projects. In an interview with The Rakish Gent, Brittney said: "I left Grantchester a few months ago after six happy years of doing the show. I wanted to see what else was out there and play different people for a while! So currently on the hunt for that exciting next thing."
When it comes to acting, Brittney makes a cameo appearance in Back in Action where he is revealed to be an assassin hired to kill spies Emily (Diaz) and Matt (Jamie Foxx). And he goes toe-to-toe with the two of them in order to retrieve a drive that will give anyone access to all the digital servers in the world.
The actor may not have very long onscreen but he certainly makes an impact in a short amount of time, with his distinct British accent bringing to mind the likes of Henry Cavill before him. Not only that but he holds his own opposite Hollywood legends like Diaz and Foxx, which is no mean feat.
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Brittney will continue to explore new avenues in Hollywood, and actually the reference to Cavill feels apt because the actor was one of the candidates for the role of Superman in James Gunn's new film. The role ended up going to David Corenswet, but it is understandable how Brittney came to be so close to portraying the Man of Steel given how well his features match the character.
This isn't the first time Brittney has stepped into the world of Hollywood, as he has previously starred in films like Tom Hanks-led thriller Greyhound, and Apple TV+'s sci-fi series Invasion. The actor also has a few projects already in the pipeline, including airplane thriller Black Box (Flight 298).
Brittney isn't just interested in acting though he also wants to direct, and has already done so for Grantchester. He currently has two short films in the works, and will move into making feature films in the near future.
Speaking with The Rakish Gent, Brittney said: "In the meantime, I'm, also prepping to direct a feature film adaptation of The Whale Tattoo, a novel that just won the Polari Prize. It's a beautiful, gritty book that I think will make an equally beautiful and gritty film. Watch this space!"
As well as acting and directing, Brittney has launched his own production company which will open doors to even more projects. One thing seems certain, the only way is up for the actor.
Back in Action is out now on Netflix, Grantchester series 9 is available on ITVX and airs weekly every Wednesday on ITV1.
