The Tudors Returns to Film in Ireland for a 4th Series
America's Showtime has given the fourth season of award winning series THE TUDORS the green light and shooting will take place this summer. Jonathan Rhys Meyers will return to star as King Henry VIII in the series which focuses on the turbulent early years of his reign as King of England.
This Emmy and IFTA award winning US series has shot on location in Ireland for the last three years in Ardmore Studios and at film locations around Dublin and Wicklow. The new series will go into production for five months over the summer with an Irish budget of €20 million. Over 200 Irish cast and crew, as well as 4500 film extras, will be hired to produce the series for the Showtime Network. Recent improvements to the Irish tax incentive for film and television Section 481 as well as extended storylines means that this season will consist of ten episodes instead of the normal eight, contributing a further boost to the Irish film and television sector in 2009.
The Irish cast and crew are highly regarded with Irish costume designer Joan Bergin already scooping two Emmy's for her costume designs on the series as well as a nomination at this years American Costume Designers Guild Awards. Jonathan Rhys Meyers was nominated for a Golden Globe earlier this year for his performance in the series and production designer Tom Conroy (Breakfast on Pluto) received a nomination at this year's Art Directors Guild for his work as a production designer on the series.
A number of Irish directors are in negotiations to handle episodes on the upcoming series. Irish directors who have previously worked on the show include Derbhla Walsh, Ciaran Donnelly, Brian Kirk and Colm McCarthy.
Previous locations used by The Tudors include Christchurch Cathedral, Kilruddery House, City Hall in Dublin and Kilmainham Jail.
THE TUDORS is produced the Showtime Network in the US, and is co-produced by Morgan O'Sullivan and James Flynn of World 2000 Entertainment. It is an official Irish/Canadian co-production.