16/06/2025 - The heist comedy, inspired by the 2004 Northern Bank robbery, is in production, with a cast led by Christopher Eccleston and Madeleine Madden, and boasting an Irish-Australian creative team

l-r: Stephen Burke, Madeleine Madden and Christopher Eccleston on the set of Chasing Millions (© Conor Horgan)

Irish filmmaker Stephen Burke is currently rolling cameras on Chasing Millions, a heist comedy inspired by the infamous £26 million robbery of Belfast’s Northern Bank in December 2004 – the largest bank heist in British and Irish history.

Set during Christmas 2004, the story follows Diana, a driven young Australian police detective visiting Belfast for personal reasons during the holidays. When the robbery shocks the city, she seizes the opportunity to take on the most significant case of her career. Assigned to assist the local investigation, she is paired with Crayford, a gruff and seasoned Northern Irish detective who is reluctant to work with her and views her involvement as an unnecessary complication. With no solid leads and growing pressure from all sides, the pair must learn to trust one another – or risk letting the perpetrators vanish without a trace.

This is the third feature by Burke, coming on the heels of his box-office hit Maze [+see also:
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film profile], which was also inspired by true events. The script is co-penned by the director and Australian screenwriter Kathrine Thomson (House of Hancock). Leading the cast are British actor Christopher Eccleston (28 Days Later, the series Doctor Who, The Leftovers) as Crayford and Australian actress Madeleine Madden (The Wheel of Time, Tidelands) as Diana. They are joined by a strong ensemble, including Adam Best (Kneecap [+see also:
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Behind the camera is Irish director of photography Owen McPolin (Vikings, Foundation), while the editing is being handled by Chris Plummer. The original score is composed by Australian musician Jim Moginie (a founding member of Midnight Oil), and the sound design is led by Simon Willis.

Principal photography began on 2 June, with filming under way in and around Dublin and Dundalk. A number of Irish locations are doubling for Belfast circa 2004, with the production aiming to authentically reflect the political and social atmosphere of the time. While an exact wrap date has yet to be confirmed, filming is expected to continue until July.

Speaking about his experience on set, lead actor Eccleston told Cineuropa: “Ireland has a rich filmmaking tradition and a deeply collaborative spirit. Working here again reminds me of the strength and integrity of the crews, and the depth of talent on offer.”

Chasing Millions is an Irish-Australian co-production, staged by Jane Doolan for Mammoth Films in collaboration with Michael Wrenn, of Invisible Republic. The project has received major backing from Screen Ireland and Screen Australia, with additional support from RTÉ, LevelK, Screen Queensland, Invest Gold Coast, Mind The Gap, Elysium Studio, Carnival Studio and MDW Law. Executive producers include Tine Klint, Ester Harding, Michael Agar, Lucy Markovich, Jordan Vincent, Odilla O'Boyle and Demi Hopkins. Domestic distribution will be handled by Eclipse Films in Ireland and Bonsai Films in Australia. LevelK has acquired the world sales rights. The film is slated for release in 2026.