Principal photography has almost finished on Chris O’Dowd’s six part comedy series for Sky One ‘Moone Boy’. A semi-autobiographical tale about O’Dowd’s time growing up in Boyle, Co. Roscommon but with a quirky twist - this series combines Irish and English production and acting talent.
Set in Ireland in the early 90s the series follows Martin Moone and his family who all live in a cramped house. It’s a loud, lively, chaotic, messy household where the parents and children are all pursuing very different lifestyles and right at the bottom of the pile is the youngest in the family, Martin, a quirky, creative, eleven-year-old with an imaginary friend, Sean Murphy played by O’Dowd (Bridesmaids, Crimson Petal and the White).
Acting newcomer David Rawle plays the coveted role of young Martin Moone in the series. Oscar nominated short director and actor Peter McDonald (Wreckers, Your Bad Self) plays his father and comedy actress Deirdre O’Kane (Killing Bono, Bittersweet) takes on the role of Mrs. Moone. English actor Steve Coogan (Our Idiot Brother, Tropic Thunder) plays the role of the town mayor Brendan and Johnny Vegas (Ideal, Benidorm) plays ‘Crunchie’. The series also stars other Irish actors including Ruth McCabe (Stella Days, Wakewood), Norma Sheahan (An Crisis, Ondine), Steve Wall (Hum, Country), Simon Delaney (The Good Wife, This Must Be The Place), Meave Higgins (Naked Camera, Magic), Dawn Bradfield (Coming Home, The Clinic), Tom Hickey (What Richard Did, Stella Days) as Martin’s granddad, and Pat McDonnell (Watching) as Frank. All casting for the series was done by Amy Rowan (The Christening, The Clinic) with Holly Carey (Once, Bachelors Walk) assisting.
The series is being directed by Declan Lowney (Father Ted) and was written by Nick Murphy and Chris O’Dowd. The director of photography on the project is Ruairi O’Brien (Corp + Anam, Noreen) who is shooting the series on RED. Costume designer for the project is Leonie Prendergast (What Richard Did, Roy) and Eileen Buggy (Shadow Dancer, Stella Days) and Barbara Conway (Primeval, Raw) are providing hair and make-up. All cartoon animation for the series is being provided for by Cartoon Saloon.
Executive producers for the series are Paul Donovan (Death of a Superhero, Trivia) of Irish Production Company Grand Pictures, Chris O’Dowd, Henry Normal (Starlings, The Shadow Lines) and Gina Carter (Fry’s Planet World, Down by the River) of Baby Cow and Lucy Lumsden of Sky. The series is being produced by Ted Dowd (The Bear, Gavin and Stacey) and Mick Walsh (The Clinic, Rat) is production manager.
The series is currently shooting in Wicklow and Ardmore Studios and wraps on the 24th February. The series will post in London. An editor is yet to be decided. 'Moone Boy’ was funded by Sky and Section 481. It will be broadcast on Sky this summer.
