 The Tudors |
Major television series ‘The Tudors’, which has enjoyed rave reviews and high ratings since it’s debut on US television earlier this month, is set to return to Ireland this summer to shoot a second series.
‘The Tudors’ focuses on the turbulent early years of King Henry VIII's reign as King of England. The series stars Irish Golden Globe winning actor Jonathan Rhys-Meyers (Match Point), John Kavanagh (The Tiger’s Tail), Nick Dunning (Alexander) and Maria Doyle Kennedy (Tara Road). International actors featured in the current series include Sam Neill (The Piano) and Jeremy Northam (Gosford Park).
The shoot will return to Ardmore Studios and will film for five months taking in key locations around Dublin and Wicklow from June 4th. Previous locations on the series include Christchurch Cathedral, Kilruddery House, City Hall and Kilmainham Jail.
The budget of the series is €25 million with the Irish spend of the project expected to be in the region of €15 million. The series is in receipt of the IFB International Production Fund and as a result of this funding, there will be two Irish directors attached to direct episodes of the series again this year, including Dearbhla Walsh. Irish directors Brian Kirk and Ciaran
Donnelly helmed episodes on the first series.
“The return of the US company Showtime and ‘The Tudors’ to Ireland is testament to the creative talent of the Irish producers and crew who helped produced a world class series. ‘The Tudors’ is the first of a number of TV series’ we expect to film in Ireland this year” said Naoise Barry, Film Commissioner, Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board.
“We’re delighted that ‘The Tudors’ has been re-commissioned. Having such a large US production shooting on location in Ireland can only create a very positive picture of Ireland as an excellent film location around the world. ” said Morgan O’Sullivan, Executive Producer on the series.
“Over the last several years Showtime has been involved with or commissioned a number of movies in Ireland, which have always worked well both artistically and economically. ‘The Tudors’ was a much larger undertaking than any of the previous movies. Not only is it a full ten episode series but it is the most expensive series that Showtime has been involved with. Nevertheless, our trust in the Irish creative staff and crew paid off both creatively and financially. The scope of the show - in terms of construction, wardrobe, locations, set dressing, animals, extras, and visual effects - shows clearly in the completed series and proves to Showtime that Ireland was the right place for such a huge project" said Melinda Benedek, Showtime Networks.
‘The Tudors’ was produced by TM Productions and PA Tudors, with the support of Morgan O’Sullivan’s production company World 2000 Entertainment. It is an official Irish/Canadian co-production and co-financed Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board through the IFB international production fund. The second series of ‘The Tudors’ will be broadcast on Showtime in 2008.
