Leading Hollywood actor Pierce Brosnan will star in an upcoming movie 'The Last Rifleman'. With director Terry Loane of 'Mickybo and Me' fame at the helm, the movie tells the story of Artie Crawford. Crawford is a recently widowed Second World War veteran living in a care home in Northern Ireland.
‘The Last Rifleman’ is inspired by the true story of veteran Bernard Jordan, who “escaped” his care home in Hove, East Sussex, England. Jordan crossed the English channel in 2014 to visit Normandy and pay his respects on the 70th Anniversary of D-Day.
Wikimedia Commons Photo: Hollywood star Pierce Brosnan at the 2005 Toronto Film Festival. The former James Bond actor will star in 'The Last Rifleman', the story of a Second World War veteran in Northern Ireland.
The action in ‘The Last Rifleman’ takes place 5 years later during the 75th anniversary of D-Day in 2019. Artie Crawford makes his daring “escape” and travels to Northern France. There, he pays his respects to fallen friends and faces the ghosts of his past.
Developed with funding from Northern Ireland Screen, ‘The Last Rifleman’ brings together the writer Kevin Fitzpatrick, and producers Katy Jackson and John Leslie of Wee Buns. In recent years, Wee Buns were the production team behind ‘Zoo’, the adaptation of the story of Shiela the Elephant in Belfast during the Blitz. Co-Producers are Jacqueline Kerrin and Dominic Wright of Ripple World Pictures. Executive Producers on the project are Mark Huffam, Kevin Jackson, Nick Leese, Eloise Singer, and Tommy Curran. Oscar-winning composer Stephen Warbeck will work on the score with other big-name crew members on board such as make-up designer Clare Ramsey.
Principal photography and production are due to take place in both Northern Ireland the Republic of Ireland in winter 2020.
When I first read Kevin’s screenplay, I found it to be a beautifully touching story with an honest heart and soul. It is the script that directors search for: a powerful, character-led drama that perfectly balances heart and pathos. The personal price paid by those in the aftermath of war is something that resonates with all ages, all over the world.
Terry Loane, Director ‘The Last Rifleman’.
