Michael Fassbender and Domhnall Gleeson are to star in Irish director Lenny Abrahamson’s next film ‘Frank’.
Fassbender (Prometheus) and Gleeson (Anna Karenina) are both attached to star in the feature, which has been written by journalist and author Jon Ronson (The Men Who Stare at Goats) and Peter Straughan (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Men Who Stare At Goats).
Abrahamson’s fourth feature is scheduled to begin shooting later this year and has been developed by Film4 who will also co-finance the film with the Irish Film Board.
‘Frank’ is a comedy about a young wannabe musician, Jon (Gleeson), who discovers he's bitten off more than he can chew when he joins an eccentric pop band led by the mysterious and enigmatic Frank (Fassbender).
Producer Ed Guiney of Element Pictures commented that he was delighted that the script would “bring together Michael Fassbender, Domhnall Gleeson and Lenny Abrahamson three of the most exciting Irish talents working in cinema today”.
James Hickey, chief executive of the Irish Film Board added: “We are delighted to be working with Element Pictures and Film4 on this exciting project. Lenny is a great Irish filmmaker while Michael and Domhnall are exceptional world class Irish actors making this project a wonderful opportunity for the Irish Film Board to support Irish talent on the world stage.”
Fassbender is currently shooting Ridley Scott’s ‘The Counselor’ in London alongside Brad Pitt and Cameron Diaz, while Domhnall Gleeson recently finished shooting Richard Curtis’ new comedy ‘About Time’. Gleeson was also recently named as one of Variety’s 10 Actors to Watch.
Frank will mark the fourth collaboration between Abrahamson and Element Pictures. Past features include ‘Garage’, ‘Adam & Paul’ and Abrahamson’s current film ‘What Richard Did’, which will premiere at the Toronto Film festival later this month.
’Frank’ is a co-production between Runaway Fridge and Element Pictures and will be produced by David Barron, Ed Guiney and Stevie Lee.
Executive producers for Film4 are Tessa Ross and Katherine Butler and for Element Pictures, Andrew Lowe. Protagonist Pictures are handling international sales.
