Liam Neeson is set to co-produce a film adaptation of the novel, A Mad and Wonderful Thing, which is about an IRA sniper.
The 62-year-old Ballymena-born star is teaming up with Parallel Films to rework the debut novel by Mark Mulholland.
Mulholland's agent Laura Susijn confirmed the news, saying: “It is solid, negotiations are finished but it’s really early days, it’s really exciting. Liam Neeson is on board as a co-producer and Alan Moloney is someone who makes extremely good films.”
The book, which was published in 2014, tells the fictional story of IRA sniper Johnny Donnelly and is set in Mulholland's home town - Dundalk.
Speaking to Dundalk blog, Talk of the Town, Mulholland said: “It was Liam who did the running on this and made the thing happen. Liam has been loyal and supportive to the work from the start and he has also made some wonderful comments. Liam, because of who he is, brings assurance of a big production and a guarantee of attention.
“This will be Liam’s first film to include a role behind the camera. Some months ago I suggested to Liam that he may like to make the film himself. Madly enough, he said yes.
“Well, what he actually said was, ‘I don’t have a production company; never had. And I’ve no desire to direct or to produce really. However, I will make an exception for A Mad and Wonderful Thing'. Well, how mad is that?"
Neeson previously stated that the book was “excellent, deeply satisfying and moving."
