Acclaimed actor Clive Mantle, a proud Wiltshire resident, has officially joined the cast of Bambola, the upcoming feature film from Wiltshire-based director Richard Bazley. The production—staffed predominantly by a Wiltshire crew—marks a major homegrown creative collaboration for the region.
Mantle, known for standout roles in Alien 3, Game of Thrones, and Robin of Sherwood, brings his trademark depth and presence to a film steeped in theatrical surrealism and emotional symbolism. His involvement shines a spotlight on the thriving film talent rooted in Wiltshire.
Bambola is a genre-defying drama blending dreamlike visuals with a haunting narrative centred on a doll-like protagonist navigating a fractured world of memory, identity, and transformation. Bazley—whose career spans animation and live action and includes two Emmy nominations—describes the film as “a poetic fable about resilience and reinvention, told through a lens of visual metaphor and cinematic boldness.”
The production reunites Bazley with his award-winning creative team, including long-term collaborator and screenwriter Neil Bason, cinematographer John E Fry, and music producer Adrian Chivers. Their previous short films, Censure and Confines, have collectively won more than 70 awards and screened internationally, from Beverly Hills to Cannes and New York.
The cast also includes Vivien Taylor as Bambola/Maggie and Connor Wulfric as young journalist Andy—both returning from Bazley’s previous films. Joining the team for the first time is Anna Arthur, playing Sally, a young journalist and the perfect foil to Mantle’s character.
Mantle will portray David, a jaded journalist whose emotional journey forms a central thread of the film. His casting adds further momentum to a project already generating excitement for its bold aesthetic and strong Wiltshire identity.
“I’m thrilled to be working with Richard Bazley on such a unique and visually arresting film,” said Mantle. “It’s very well written and I can imagine the finished product would have a profound effect on its audience.”
With production now underway with, further casting announcements and behind‑the‑scenes previews will be released in the coming weeks.
