The feature project is set to be a directorial debut for Farhad Safinia (Boss, Complete Savages), who co-wrote the screenplay with Todd Komarnicki (Sully) and Irish talent John Boorman (Queen & Country).
‘The Professor and the Madman’ is based on the 1999 novel penned by Simon Winchester. Filming is due to commence in Dublin on Monday, September 26th for an eight-week period.
The project is produced Fastnet Films and Icon International, with Voltage Pictures handling worldwide distribution.
Safina has previously collaborated with Gibson on the screenplay for ‘Apocalypto’ (2006). Gibson will portray Professor James Murray in the upcoming feature, who begins to compile words for the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary.
Gibson’s character is then sent over 10,000 entries from Dr. William Chester Minor, an inmate at asylum for the criminally insane, played by Penn. ‘Game of Thrones’ star Natalie Dormer is also set to portray the widow of a man killed by the doctor.
Irish talent involved in the project includes award-winning Production Designer Tom Conroy (Mammal, Strangerland) and seven-time IFTA-nominated Costume Designer Eimer Ni Mhaoldomhnaigh (Love & friendship). BAFTA-nominated Irish Makeup Artist Lorraine Glynn (Brooklyn) is also set to take the role of Hair Designer.
Mel Gibson was honoured at the 2008 IFTA Awards ceremony for his Outstanding Contribution to World Cinema. His previous work in Ireland includes ‘Braveheart’ which achieved five Oscar wins in 1996.
Additionally, Sean Penn filmed ‘This Must Be the Place’ in North Dublin, which screened at the Cannes Film Festival in 2011 and earned the Prize of Ecumenical Jury.