Irish actors Ardal O’Hanlon, Dylan Moran and Pat Shortt are lining up to star in the Irish comedy film ‘Wide Open Spaces’. Written by ‘Father Ted’ co-writer Arthur Matthews, the film will be the feature directorial debut for award winning cinematographer PJ Dillon (Kings, Timbuktu).
All three actors have starred in feature and television projects but this will be the first time the Irish comics have appeared on screen together as a trio.
O’Hanlon, who shot to fame with his performance as Fr. Dougal in ‘Father Ted’, has most recently appeared in the Brit comedy feature ‘Greyfriars Bobby’ and starred in the small screen series ‘Doctor Who’ and ‘My Hero’.
Moran, who has won acclaim for his writing and acting prowess in the television series ‘Black Book’, also featured in the summer hit ‘Run Fatboy Run’, cult zombie flick ‘Shaun of the Dead’ and the 2003 Irish comedy ‘The Actors’ alongside Michael Caine.
Pat Shortt is savoring his recent award winning turn in the feature film ‘Garage’ and is a successful stage and television actor with credits including his hit RTE series ‘Killinaskully’ and Paddy Breathnach’s feature ‘Man About Dog’. He also appeared in episodes of ‘Father Ted’ alongside O’Hanlon.
In the offbeat comedy, O’Hanlon and Moran will play two thirty-something slackers lying low in a remote area of Ireland. Myles Davis (O’Hanlon) and Austen Turner (Moran) are working off a debt by helping to convert an old tin mine into a Famine Theme Park for Austen’s uncle and local entrepreneur Gerard (Pat Shortt). Myles is determined to change and get back to a life more ordinary in the big city but the discovery of a brown envelope of cash looks like their way out, until Austen’s on-line gambling habit resurfaces and increases the tension between the pair.
The feature is produced by Paul Donovan of Grand Pictures with support from the Irish Film Board. Shooting is currently scheduled for summer 2008.
