The project was announced in February 2024 with Marc Evans directing from a script written by Tom Bullough and Josh Hyams. Ed Talfan and Hannah Thomas are producers for Severn Screen, with Josh Hyams producing for Promise Pictures. The film also has finance from BBC Wales and Ffilm Cymru Wales, in partnership with Creative Wales.[1]
In May 2024, Harry Lawtey was cast as a young Richard Jenkins.[2]Toby Jones is cast as Mr Burton, a school teacher who had a profound effect on the life of a young pupil, Richard Jenkins, who later became known as the actor Richard Burton, with Lesley Manville cast as Mr Burton's landlady and Aimee-Ffion Edwards and Aneurin Barnard cast as young Jenkins' sister and brother-in-law.[3]
Principal photography began in July 2024 for a 2025 release to mark the centenary of Richard Burton's birth.[4][5][6] Filming was completed in August 2024.[7]