Judi Dench and Steve Coogan will film scenes for Stephen Frears’ latest feature ‘Philomena’ outside Belfast from November 14-16.
IFTN can reveal that the award-winning duo will be present to film in Northern Ireland over three days, for Frears’ first Irish-shot film since ‘The Van’ in 1996.
As previously reported by IFTN, Dench is playing real-life Irish woman Philomena Lee, who went in search of her son 50 years after she gave him up for adoption in the 50s.
Coogan is playing real-life journalist Martin Sixsmith, who helped Lee look for her son and later penned the book which the film is based on.
Coogan’s Baby Cow Productions is producing with BBC Films and France’s Pathe. The script was co-written by Coogan with ‘Pierrepoint’ writer Jeff Pope.
Filming will get underway in Washington next Monday (October 29) before moving to Northern Ireland for three days. The production will then move to London for the remainder of the shoot, which is scheduled to wrap on January 7.
The Northern Irish set will be closed to members of the public, but eager Coogan, Dench and Frears fans may get a glimpse of the trio in Northern Ireland, as the Irish-based scenes are set in the countryside.
A small number of Northern Irish crew will be present on set, including a stills photographer. The real-life Lee will be present on set for the London shoot, where she currently resides.
‘Philomena’ is slated for a late 2013/early 2014 release.