The Rising (2016 film)

The Rising
Directed by Kevin McCann
Produced by Conor Harrington
Kevin McCann
T. Brendan Feeney
Mark Lee
Kristian Taska
Written by Kevin McCann
Colin Broderick
Based on Seán MacDiarmada: The Mind of the Revolution
Starring
Music by Shane MacGowan
Dead Can Dance
Release dates
  • March 17, 2016 (2016-03-17)
Country Ireland
United States
Language English
Irish
Budget $6 million

The Rising is an upcoming Irish historical biopic drama film written by Kevin McCann and Colin Broderick, with McCann directing as well, and starring Colin Morgan as Irish freedom fighter and 1916 Easter Rising mastermind Seán Mac Diarmada (also known as Sean McDermott). The film predates events in the films Michael Collins and The Wind That Shakes The Barley.[1] It is inspired by the biography Seán MacDiarmada: The Mind of the Revolution by Dr. Gerard MacAtasney, who has been working closely with Kevin McCann, ensuring historical accuracy while he co-wrote the script with established writer Colin Broderick.[2]

Premise

In the early 20th century, a young man leaves a small family farm and becomes the mastermind of a rebellion that changes his country forever - freeing (part of) Ireland from centuries of oppressive imperial rule. Follows the events that led famine Ireland to free Ireland - the 1916 Easter Rising Rebellion and the driving force behind it, Seán Mac Diarmada, hero to Michael Collins.[3]

He was the last of the leaders to be executed, aged 33, alongside James Connolly. On the eve of his execution, in his last letter, he wrote, "I feel happiness the like of which I never experienced in my life before... I die that the Irish Nation might live."

Before Michael Collins, there was Seán Mac Diarmada.

Cast

A young Irish political activist and pivotal revolutionary leader, he was considered as the mastermind of the Easter Rising of 1916.
An Irish republican and socialist leader, aligned to syndicalism and the Industrial Workers of the World.
An Irish teacher, barrister, poet, writer, nationalist and political activist who was one of the leaders of the Easter Rising in 1916.
An Irish patriot and revolutionary who participated in the Irish Civil War, he considers Seán Mac Diarmada as his hero.
An English politician, barrister, academic and author, he was Chief Secretary for Ireland from 1907 to 1916.
A feisty Irish nationalist – and first woman to be elected to the British Parliament but never took her seat.
A detective from G Division responsible for recognizing Seán Mac Diarmada following his surrender, after he nearly escaped execution by blending in with a large body of prisoners.
The mother of Seán Mac Diarmada, she and her carpenter husband had reared ten children in a three-roomed thatched cottage on a small farm in the north-west of Ireland.

Production

Development

Supported by Northern Ireland Screen and Leitrim County Council, this film has been in development since 2012.[7] The producer and writer, Kevin McCann, who has spent over six months in the US garnering support for the film, has raised over €100,000 to develop the film. It has gained much interest among many celebrities and prominent figures.[8] In December 2014, the film successfully raised €57,100 using Kickstarter, and gained the support of fans worldwide.[2] In June 2015, Kevin McCann returned to the U.S. to raise funds for the film. The Irish Film Board is funding some of the projects development, which includes Kevin's current six city tour of the U.S. This final push for funding comes after a development period of almost three years. Other contributors to the film's funding to date include Northern Ireland Screen, Cavan County Council, Leitrim County Council, donations from the U.S and crowd-funding (from 35 different countries). It is hoped that this final call for funding will ensure that the film goes into production.[9]

Production companies attached to the film are Irish Film Board, Maccana Teoranta and Northern Ireland Screen.[10] The film is also supported by Seán Mac Diarmada’s family, and the families of other leaders such as James Connolly.[11]

Conor Harrington is the executive producer while Kristian Taska is the Estonian producer.[12] Other producers include Kevin McCann, T. Brendan Feeney, and Mark Lee.[3] Emmy award winner Carla Stronge, of Game of Thrones and The Fall, is the casting director.[13][14] Internationally renowned recording artist Dead Can Dance will compose and record the original musical score, while Shane MacGowan from The Pogues will write the theme song for the film.[11] Filming locations consist of Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK; County Leitrim, Ireland; Dublin, Ireland; Estonia, and New York, USA.[15][2][16]

The film is anticipated to start filming in Ireland and Estonia in the New Year of 2016.[16] It will be released to a global cinema audience on St Patricks Day 2016, the centenary year of the Easter Rising.[7]

Casting

The award-winning actor Colin Morgan has been confirmed to play the lead role of Seán Mac Diarmada.[2] Additionally, David O'Hara will play Dublin Brigade Commandant General James Connolly and Micheál Neeson (son of famed actor Liam Neeson) will take on the role of Irish patriot and revolutionary Michael Collins, 20 years after his father’s iconic Golden Globe-nominated performance in the Neil Jordan 1996 film.[17] Brendan Coyle was announced to play the role of the English politician Augustine Birrell who was Chief Secretary for Ireland, Jonathan Rhys Meyers will play Pádraig Pearse who was one of the leaders of the Easter Rising, Fiona Shaw will portray the Irish rebel Constance Markievicz, while Paul Ronan will play Detective Daniel Hoey, a detective from G Division.[5][4][3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Screen Daily, retrieved 2 July 2015
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Kickstarter". Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "IMDB". Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 "Rhys Meyers cast in The Rising". Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  5. 1 2 "Variety". Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  6. ↑ "The Rising Official Facebook". Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  7. 1 2 "The Rising Official Website". Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  8. ↑ "The Irish Times". Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  9. ↑ "Irish Central". Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  10. ↑ "IMDB". Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  11. 1 2 "The Rising Official Website". Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  12. ↑ "The Rising: Official Facebook". Retrieved 17 September 2015.
  13. ↑ "Irish American News". Retrieved 17 September 2015.
  14. ↑ "BBC News". Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  15. ↑ "IMDB". Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  16. 1 2 "Irish Central". Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  17. ↑ "Irish Central". Retrieved 6 July 2015.

External links

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