Actor Cate Blanchett director Joel Schumacher and producer Jerry Bruckheimer discuss journalist Veronica Guerin, the inspiration behind their latest film.
Sunday Independent crime journalist Veronica Guerin was murdered in 1996 because of her newspaper revelations about Dublin criminals. Her life was the subject of the 2000 feature film 'When the Sky Fall' starring Joan Allen as Veronica Guerin.
A second feature film 'Veronia Guerin' starring Australian actor and Golden Globe winner Cate Blanchett in the leading role is being made in Dublin. Cate Blanchett is joined at a press conference by director Joel Schumacher and producer Jerry Bruckheimer to publicise the $17 million film.
Cate Blanchett is looking forward to taking on the role,
It’s a gift, I think that Veronica was such a complex, passionate, extraordinary human being first and foremost, a journalist second, but in the end I am speculating like the rest of Ireland as to what motivated Veronica.
Veronica Guerin’s death brought about the creation of the the Criminal Assets Bureau. Joel Schumacher is aware that,
Very few people’s deaths have ever led to the changing of laws in the country that’s an amazing accomplishment for one person’s death to have achieved.
Jerry Bruckheimer is synonymous with big budget blockbusters. He is attracted to the relatively small scale film about an Irish journalist because he loves making films with the potential to change how people think.
‘Veronica Guerin’ is being shot in various Dublin locations and will employ several Irish actors and hundreds of extras. It will go on general release at the end of 2003.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 10 March 2002. The reporter is Colm Connolly.
