Thomas Newman (The Shawshank Redemption, American Beauty, Finding Nemo, Skyfall, Road to Perdition, 1917, Wall-E, The Horse Whisperer, Meet Joe Black, Elemental, Bridge of Spies) has provided the original score for the upcoming British drama Onwards and Sideways. The film is directed by John Madden (Shakespeare in Love, Quills) and stars Rhys Ifans, Laura Linney, Monica Dolan and Rory Kinnear. The movie explores the relationship between the deputy head of a primary school and composer and single mother of two daughters who are confronted with a diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease. Paul Mayhew-Archer (My Hero) wrote the screenplay. Hilary Bevan Jones (Pirate Radio, Blithe Spirit) is producing the project for Hilltop Screen & alongside John Gore. Newman has previously collaborated with Madden on both The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel movies, as well as on the features The Debt and Operation Mincemeat. Onwards and Sideways will premiere this September at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival and is set to be released theatrically in the UK by Icon Film Distribution before making its broadcast debut on BBC One (and BBCiPlayer) later this year.
As previously reported, Newman also has Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter (to be released in theaters on May 28, 2027) coming up.
