Re-Creation: Jim Sheridan Revisits a Haunting Real-Life Murder Through a Fictional Jury Drama
Legendary six-time Oscar-nominated filmmaker Jim Sheridan returns with Re-Creation, a compelling blend of true crime and fictional drama that made its debut in the Spotlight Narrative section of the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival. Co-directed and co-written with David Merriman, the film draws inspiration from the infamous 1996 murder of French filmmaker Sophie Toscan du Plantier, a case that has long haunted Sheridan both personally and creatively.
In this bold reimagining, Sheridan steps in front of the camera to play Juror #1, the foreman of a fictional jury examining the unresolved murder. His character, much like himself, is deeply obsessed with the case—especially after discovering that the victim once had his phone number stored in her contacts. This personal connection, combined with his previous work on the 2021 docuseries Murder at the Cottage: The Search for Justice for Sophie, anchors the emotional core of Re-Creation.
The film pays homage to Sidney Lumet’s 12 Angry Men, adopting its classic structure of a jury room drama. The story begins with an initial vote: 11 jurors vote guilty, but Juror #8, played by Vicki Krieps, casts the sole not guilty vote, mirroring Henry Fonda’s iconic role in the 1957 original. From there, the film unfolds through intense debate, emotional confrontations, and shifting perspectives as the jurors confront their own biases and assumptions.
As the fictional jury digs into the real-world details of the Sophie Toscan du Plantier case—focusing especially on Ian Bailey, the long-time suspect who was convicted in absentia in France in 2019 but never tried in Ireland—Re-Creation raises provocative questions about justice, media narratives, and the very nature of truth. With each round of voting, new layers are peeled back, challenging viewers to reconsider their own notions of guilt and innocence.
Sheridan and Merriman skillfully blur the line between fact and fiction, introducing newly discovered evidence, DNA questions, and moral ambiguity. Colm Meaney offers a powerful appearance as Ian Bailey, while the ensemble cast—featuring standout performances from John Connors and Krieps—brings emotional depth and complexity to each juror.
Clocking in at 89 minutes, the film is taut and gripping, immersing the audience as the metaphorical “13th juror” in the room. It questions not only what happened to Sophie Toscan du Plantier, but also how society rushes to judge before all facts are considered.
Produced by Fabrizio Maltese and Tina O’Reilly, and represented by Latido Films, Re-Creation is both a cinematic homage and a searing social critique. In a world of sensational headlines and snap judgments, Jim Sheridan urges viewers to pause and think twice—perhaps even offering himself a path to long-awaited closure.
