A Feature film inspired by the experiences of the murdered Dublin journalist, Veronica Guerin, is to go into production next month. American actress Joan Allen has arrived in Dublin to play the central role of a journalist exposing the activities of Dublin criminals.
With the working title, Though the Sky Falls, it will be filmed on Dublin locations for seven weeks from April 12th. Its producers are Michael Wearing and Nigel Warren-Green of Irish Screen, the production company which has been involved in making the Queen Victoria film, Mrs Brown, and the Martin Cahill film, Vicious Circle.
"All the characters' names have been changed," Mr Warren-Green said. "The film is based on a screenplay Veronica Guerin was working on with Michael Sheridan before she was killed. The film is a fictionalised thriller loosely based on the last few years of her life and the crimes she was investigating. We are hugely aware of our responsibilities with this story, and we believe it will be a serious, responsible film."
Joan Allen received Oscar nominations for her performances in Nixon (as his wife) and The Crucible, and she starred in The Ice Storm and recently released Pleasantville. The main detective character in the film will be played by Irish actor Patrick Bergin, with Kevin McNally playing the journalist's husband. The key criminal characters will be portrayed by Pete Postlethwaite, Liam Cunningham, Mannix Flynn, Jimmy Smallhorne and Jason Barry.
All bar three of the cast are Irish and all the heads of department are Irish with the exception of the director, John Mackenzie, who made the acclaimed London crime thriller, The Long Good Fri- day. Several film projects based on Veronica Guerin were developed after the journalist was murdered in June 1996. At least one other project, commissioned by Jerry Bruckheimer, one of the most powerful producers in Hollywood, is believed to be still in active development.