Young Offenders creator Peter Foott to make new film set in Kerry
He created a smash-hit tale of Cork's northside, and now the man behind The Young Offenders is aiming to work his magic on a story set in a village in Co Kerry.
Peter Foott, who launched his classic tale of Conor and Jock in 2016 and watched it snowball into an Irish entertainment phenomenon, is planning to film his latest project later this year, with a likely cinema release in 2026.
Mary Man is based on the real-life story of a Kerry woman with an incredible singing voice who is also something of an outcast. The film will show how she challenges perceptions and brings joy to her local community when she competes in a singing competition.
The filmmaker, from Monkstown, Co Cork, is a regular visitor to Kerry, and is basing the movie on tales he's heard during his time in the Kingdom.
'I've wanted to make this film for some time now,' said Foott.
'I heard so many stories in the Castlecove, Co Kerry, community about this incredible person, and I wanted to bring Mary's story to life on the big screen.'
Castlecove is a small village and beach on the Iveragh Peninsula that's also part of the Ring of Kerry.
Castlecove in Co Kerry is Foott's inspiration for his next film. Picture: MacMonagle, Killarney
The film isn't yet fully cast, and producers have put a call out for people to apply for various lead and background roles.
There are opportunities to fill a number of roles for people in several age ranges beyond 18, but the filmmakers stress that singing ability is key, and all submissions must include a singing demo.
Further information on how to apply can be found here.
Foott's production company, Castlecove Pictures, stated: 'The film is packed with laughs, music, and a hugely inspirational message about being true to yourself.'
The release of Mary Man will coincide with the 10th anniversary of the debut of The Young Offenders, created by Foott on a shoestring budget before it went on to take in over €1m at the box office in Ireland alone, and also spawned a TV series that's now heading for a fifth season.
Foott's early credits include directing the music video for Horse Outside by the Rubberbandits, and recently he has been working on Spooked, a supernatural comedy due out later this year from the Disney stable.
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