08/12/2010

Principal photography is underway in Belfast and Donegal, Ireland on Jon Wright’s (Tormented) Irish comedy horror Grabbers and Sony Pictures has already acquired UK rights to the project.

Written by Kevin Lehane, the film is set in a sleepy Irish village where the residents must fend off giant sea creatures known as grabbers. Richard Coyle (Franklyn [+see also:
trailer
film profile]), Ruth Bradley (Flyboys) and Russell Tovey (The History Boys [+see also:
trailer
film profile]) lead the cast.

Producers Tracy Brimm and Kate Myers of Forward Films have partnered with Martina Niland and David Collins of Samson Films in Dublin, Eduardo Levy and James Martin of High Treason Productions in Los Angeles, Piers Tempest of The Salt Company and UK commissioning producer Bear Rock Films. The film is an Irish Film Board and UK Film Council (UKFC) presentation and The Salt Company is handling global sales.

Brimm and Myers said, “Kevin Lehane has fused the monster comedy of Tremors with the charm, characters and authenticity of Waking Ned to create a truly original and highly entertaining story.”

Tanya Seghatchian, Head of the UKFC's Film Fund said, “We leapt at Grabbers for its sheer brio and playfulness with the genre coming from a very talented up-and-coming team of filmmakers.”

Dave G. Bishop, Sony’s Head of Acquisitions for Northern Europe, said, “Grabbers is such an exciting project, the script is one of the funniest I’ve read and with such amazing talent in front of and behind the camera, we’re confident this will be a huge success for Sony.”