Filming to Begin in Dublin on THE PROFESSOR AND THE MADMAN Starring Mel Gibson and Sean Penn
International stars Mel Gibson and Sean Penn arrive in Ireland this month to film the upcoming big-screen adaptation of ‘The Professor and the Madman' in Dublin city.
The film is based on Simon Winchester's best-selling historical novel about the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary and will be directed by Farhad Safinia, who previously wrote Gibson's 2006 Mayan epic 'Apocalypto'.
Gibson will portray Professor James Murray, who in 1857 undertook the creation of the famed dictionary, a compilation project that's considered one of the most ambitious in history. Penn will play Doctor W.C. Minor, an associate of Murray's who was responsible for over 10,000 entries in the dictionary, whilst also living as an inmate in Broadmoor insane asylum. The film will showcase up and coming local Irish talent Rob McCormack, Abigail Coburn, Zoe Moran, Phonsie Wardell, and Nora Cooper, cast from an extensive search as the family of Professor Murray.
The film will begin production at the end of the month for eight weeks around Dublin City with creative co-production funding from the Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board and on the ground locations support from the IFB inward production team. The film is produced by Icon Productions and Fastnet Films in Ireland, with international sales being handled by Voltage Pictures.
Irish HOD's include Production Designer Tom Conroy, Costume Designer Eimer Ni Mhaoldomhnaigh, Location Manager Gordon Wycherly and Make Up & Hair team Lynn Johnson and Lorraine Glynn.