A small, down-to-earth film about huge, out-of-this-world concepts... Starring Joe Thomas (The Inbetweeners), Kelley Mack (The Walking Dead) and Rosa Robson (Buffering), UNIVERSAL is an independent feature film, with just three characters, set in a single location. A weekend break for a couple of academics is interrupted by a woman who won’t take “no” for an answer, seeking their help with the biggest discovery in history.
It is with great sadness that we must announce that Kelley Mack – actor, executive producer and one of the main driving forces of this project – passed away in August 2025, after battling a rare form of cancer. She will be missed immensely. Universal is Kelley’s final film role and will be released posthumously, dedicated to her memory.
TRAILER
CAST
JOE THOMAS
UK comedy legend, star of numerous hit TV series (including The Inbetweeners, White Gold, Fresh Meat and Taskmaster), stand-up comedian, and Star Baker on Celebrity Bake-Off.
Joe plays “Leo” – a pedantic but idealistic scientist, whose studies into Junk DNA (the parts of the genome with no apparent purpose) have left him unfulfilled.
KELLEY MACK
Actress, producer and voice artist, Kelley appeared in feature films such as Broadcast Signal Intrusion and Delicate Arch, as well as various TV shows – including in the role of Addy in AMC’s The Walking Dead.
Sadly, Kelley passed away in August 2025 after battling a rare form of cancer.
In Universal, Kelley played “Ricky,” an intelligent but idiosyncratic woman from an inauspicious background, with a noticeable lack of people skills.
ROSA ROBSON
Cambridge Footlights alumna and one half of anarchic comedy act “Beard”, Rosa has appeared in various shows including Inside No. 9, Extraordinary, Buffering and The Outlaws.
She plays “Naomi”, a gifted academic with a measured demeanor and a pragmatic outlook, who also happens to be Leo’s supportive long-term girlfriend.
STILLS
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
- Running Time: 90mins
- Format: 4K (UHD) | Colour
- Language: English (Closed Captioned)
- Aspect Ratio: 2:1
- Sound: 5.1 (stereo mix and M&E mixes available)
PAST SCREENINGS
Dances With Films
June 21, 2025
TCL Chinese Theatres,
Hollywood, California
Pacific Northwest Premiere
Portland Festival of Cinema, Animation and Technology
August 10, 2025
OMSI
Portland, Oregon
East Coast Premiere
Chain NYC
Film Festival
August 11, 2025
Chain Theater
Midtown Manhattan, New York
Midwest Premiere
Hobnobben
Film Festival
October 25, 2025
Cinema Center,
Fort Wayne, IN
CREDITS
Cast
JOE THOMAS
KELLEY MACK
ROSA ROBSON
Written & Directed by
STEPHEN PORTLAND
Director of Photography
AKINA VAN DE VELDE
Sound mixer
SEAN HAMILTON
Camera Operator
JUSTIN NGUYEN
Hair and Makeup Artist
ALYSSA MCGINLEY
Edited by
NOEL BERWICK
Music by
RORY LAWS
Colorist
ZANNA BERRY
Re-recording Mixer
ANASTASIIA MARIUHA
Executive Producer
KELLEY MACK
Music composed by
Also featuring the music of
