Paisley and McGuinness movie The Journey films in Ballygally

The Larne Times has captured exclusive pictures of new Timothy Spall movie The Journey filming in Ballygally.
Filming of The Journey. INLT 40-001-PSBFilming of The Journey. INLT 40-001-PSB
Filming of The Journey. INLT 40-001-PSB

The film examines the relationship between the late Rev Ian Paisley and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.

The pictures show filming of a travel sequence, with English actor Timothy Spall in costume and heavily made up to bear a striking ressemblance to Ian Paisley.

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Seated in a black car, Mr Spall gazes out the window as he is filmed from a rig by a camera crew travelling in front of his vehicle.

Filming of The JourneyFilming of The Journey
Filming of The Journey

Irish star Colm Meaney will also star in the film as Martin McGuinness.

In addition, Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings star Sir John Hurt has been lined up to play a veteran political fixer who oversees the St Andrews agreement.

Toby Stephens, who previously starred as a James Bond villain, will play former New Labour leader Tony Blair.

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Charlie and The Chocolate Factory lead Freddy Highmore will play a young civil servant who tries to improve the relationship between McGuinness and Paisley.

Timothy SpallTimothy Spall
Timothy Spall

The director of the film is Belfast-born Nick Hamm, while Co Down author Colin Bateman has written the script.

Hamm, Mark Huffam (The Martian) and Piers Tempest (Like Minds) are producing the movie.

Stuart Ford’s IM Global is financing the project along with Northern Ireland Screen and will handle world sales.

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Production is set to take place in parts of Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Spall is set to work on Alice In Wonderland sequel Alice Through The Looking Glass and earlier this year was nominated for an Oscar for his lead role in the film Mr Turner.

Colm Meaney has previously worked on Star Trek, and has guest-starred on Law and Order and The Simpsons.