Danny DeVito is set to direct his next feature film in Ireland next year, the Irish Film Board has confirmed.
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, sees DeVito returning to the director's chair for the first time since 2003.
The Oscar-nominated actor has previously directed six films including Throw Momma from the Train, The War of the Roses, Hoffa and Matilda.
The film which stars Morgan Freeman and Pierce Brosnan, was originally due to start shooting in September 2008 in the US with Saoirse Ronan cast as the lead.
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle will have an estimated budget of $28 million (€20 million).
An adaptation of the best-selling novel by Edward Irving Wotis, writing under the pen name Avi, the film is set in the 1930s, and tells the story of young Charlotte Doyle and her adventures on the high seas aboard a boat with a ruthless captain and a mutinous crew.
Brosnan is set to play the captain while Freeman will play the ship's cook, who guides the young woman through the journey.
While Brosnan and Freeman have been onboard since the start, the role of Charlotte Doyle is currently being re-cast as Ronan is now too old to play the lead.
DeVito said he believed it was an "amazing role for a teenage actress".
"Charlotte Doyle is a passion of mine and I want it to be an inspiration for all kids throughout the world," the actor said. "Charlotte is truly an original, heroic figure and the film will be full of tension, thrills and swashbuckling action."
Brosnan's Irish DreamTime will co-produce the film along with Dublin-based Subotica Films, Revelations Entertainemnt and Clear Black Films.
Tristan Orpen Lynch from Subotica said the film was originally meant to be shot in the US.
"After meeting with Danny and his producers in Los Angeles the Irish Film Board facilitated a location scout with him last Spring. We met again with Danny and Morgan in May and we are delighted they have now decided to bring this feature film to shoot entirely in Ireland next year," said Mr Lynch.
"This high level production will provide an excellent employment opportunity for Irish cast and crew," he added.
