Oscar nominated actor Bill Murray (Lost in Translation, Broken Flowers) has signed to star in the forthcoming feature ‘City of Ember’ alongside Toby Jones (Amazing Grace) and Saoirse Ronan (Atonement). The Walden Media and Playtone Productions film is scheduled to shoot in Northern Ireland this summer.
‘City of Ember’ is an adaptation of Jeanne Duprau’s fantasy novel. Caroline Thompson penned the script which is set in an insular, dark place where the only light comes from street lamps. The plot follows two teenagers who must unlock ancient mysteries about the city and save it from eternal darkness.
Bill Murray will play the larger than life mayor of Ember with Jones picking up the part of the Mayor’s right hand man. Relative newcomer Saoirse Ronan will play one of the teenagers, Lina Mayfleet.
‘Monster House’ director Gil Kenan will helm the $50million project that is scheduled to shoot in Belfast over a 16 week period this summer. The film is set for release on October 10, 2008, by 20th Century Fox through the joint marketing venture Fox Walden.
Playtone's Gary Goetzman and Tom Hanks are producing and John D Schofield will serve as executive producers. Walden Media’s head of production Alex Schwartz and creative executive Bonnie Solomon are overseeing the project for the company.
