Why ‘The Life of Chuck’ is the Film You Can’t Miss at SXSW London—Unpacking the Sci-Fi Drama’s Premise

Mike Flanagan’s highly anticipated sci-fi drama The Life of Chuck is set to close the screen festival of the inaugural SXSW London, marking a significant moment for the event. The film, which won the prestigious audience award at the Toronto Film Festival last year, will have its U.K. premiere on June 7 as the event’s closing night film.

Adapted by Flanagan from Stephen King’s 2020 novella, The Life of Chuck stars Tom Hiddleston alongside a star-studded cast that includes Mark Hamill, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Karen Gillan, and Jacob Tremblay. The film is described as a “life-affirming” story that follows the life of an ordinary man named Charles Krantz. Set against the backdrop of a world that seems to be slowly crumbling, the film unfolds in three distinct chapters told in reverse chronological order.

Neon, who acquired the U.S. distribution rights after the film’s success at Toronto, has touted the film as a departure from typical Stephen King adaptations like It or Pet Sematary. Instead, The Life of Chuck has drawn comparisons to more emotional and profound King adaptations, such as Shawshank Redemption and Stand By Me. The film is set to release in the U.K. on August 22, adding to the excitement surrounding its global debut.

SXSW London, which is set to run from June 2-7, will be the city’s creative hub for the inaugural event, taking place in Shoreditch’s vibrant creative neighborhood. The festival’s programming will feature 420 sessions over four days, spanning categories such as technology, society, culture, and business. Notably, the conference will host major industry figures like Idris Elba, Gillian Anderson, and CEOs from Twitch, WPP, OnlyFans, and Google DeepMind.

In addition to the conference, the music program will include 78 individual events across 20 venues, with more than 600 performances taking place at key hubs like Shoreditch Town Hall and Village Underground. Meanwhile, the screen festival aims to feature 250 sessions, showcasing 80 to 90 international premieres with a particular focus on European films.

Speaking to Variety last year, SXSW London’s Director of Programming, Katy Arnander, emphasized the event’s aim to stand out by blending culture, creativity, and technology. “There are plenty of festivals and events that specialize in certain art forms or creativity or tech, but this idea of converging culture, creativity and technology is really unique and unique to London,” Arnander said, underscoring the festival’s distinctive approach.

As the inaugural SXSW London nears, all eyes will be on The Life of Chuck and its prominent role in closing out the festival, setting the tone for what promises to be a groundbreaking event that showcases the intersection of art, culture, and technology.