The Weir with Brendan Gleeson to be adapted into a film

Principal photography has begun in Ireland on The Weir, a new feature directed by Conor McPherson, based on his Olivier Award-winning play of the same name.

The film reunites the cast from the recent stage revival that ran in the West End, with Brendan Gleeson joined by Owen McDonnell, Seán McGinley, Kate Phillips and Tom Vaughan-Lawlor.

The stage production received nominations at several awards ceremonies, including recognition for Gleeson in the Best Actor categories at the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards and The Standard Theatre Awards. The production was also nominated for Best Revival of a Play, while Phillips received a Best Newcomer nomination and the company was recognised in the Best Ensemble category at the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards.

It also picked up a glowing five-star review from WhatsOnStage, being described as “a staggeringly good production of a play that is already a classic.”

Set in a pub in rural Ireland, the story follows four men – Jack, Brendan, Jim and Finbar – who meet for drinks each evening. Their routine changes when Finbar brings Valerie, who has recently moved from Dublin, to the pub. The group begin to share local folklore and ghost stories in an attempt to entertain her, before Valerie reveals the reason for her arrival.

The film is produced by Kate Horton for Kate Horton Productions, Anne Clarke for Landmark Productions, Andrea Calderwood and Gail Egan for Potboiler Productions, and Lara Hickey for Copper Alley Productions. It is supported by Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland in association with Curzon Film.

Executive producers include McPherson and Gleeson, alongside Keith Potter for Screen Ireland and Philip Knatchbull and Louisa Dent for Curzon Film. Curzon and Break Out Pictures have acquired distribution rights for the UK and Ireland.