julian_craster

Who could play the Rev ?

Robert De Niro perhaps....







DUP leader's life made into film

BBC News
BBC NEWS | Northern Ireland | DUP leader's life made into film

Ian Paisley's family has already held discussions about the film
The family of DUP leader Ian Paisley has revealed it has commissioned the writer Gary Mitchell to come up with a movie script about the DUP leader's life.
Some of the funding has been raised already and the family has said it will insist on using Northern Ireland talent.

Writer Gary Mitchell went public on Tuesday with the news that he had been commissioned to write the script.

He is well known for writing plays sympathetic to the loyalist community.
"I think it is a tremendous opportunity to explore and expose the great man and all his vices and all his virtues," he said.


The Paisley family say they have had preliminary discussions about the project, and that some money is on the table already.

Gary Mitchell has been commissioned to write the film's script

Mr Mitchell said that although the actor who would play the the DUP leader was yet to be decided, they were hoping a major star would take on the role.
Liam Neeson has said he is interested in playing the part, but his dealings with the DUP in the past have been unpromising.

The party objected to him being offered the freedom of his home town of Ballymena and that led to the actor refusing the honour.

However, there is competition for Paisley the movie, a County Down film company has already won funding from the film and television commission to develop a script but it is thought the Paisley family is not involved in that project.

It is likely that Ian Paisley Junior will be executive producer on the project which has the approval of his family.

That may be one way of making sure that the story is told in a way which does not offend the DUP leader's supporters.

Steve Crook

I don't think he could be mean enough

Everyone says that Ray Winstone is very good at shouting

Steve

Hackett

The late Ray McAnally would have been ideal.

Jim

Could Winstone play a religious man? He would find it difficult to express himself without swearing! Although he HAS played 2 films where he didn't swear - Henry 8th and Last Orders.

And as for DeNiro - a Catholic playing a Protestant!!!

I know actors will prostitute themselves for their 'art' and I know that Richard Harris played Cromwell only to leave about £12,000 in his will to the Jesuits (USED TO BE THE INQUISITION) - an organisation less like Jesus than that, I can't imagine!!

Good morning boys.

silverwhistle

It should be a musical. With flutes and drums. ;-D

In the Grauniad, someone had suggested Art Garfunkel to play Martin McGuinness...

Biffer

Robbie Coltrane ... no question about it.

Of course, Mr Coltrane's previous renditions of Paisley have been less than flattering, so someone from 'the family' might object.

'Biffer'

ChristineCB

And me, I'm still hoping for a Margaret Hamilton comeback...

sigh...

A Pemberton

If you want a lookalike to play the older Rev Paisley may I humbly suggest the ex cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.

hell (or a ban),here I come, (but they do look similar)

samkydd

Perhaps not but he could play Ian Paisley!

"...the chairman of Littlewoods stores made a Keynote speech!"

Carmel

The Devil wouldn't even play this man, not mean enough

veel03

Pity red nose day was last friday!

julian_craster

A Quote from the Rev on the dangers of line dancing : · 'Line dancing is as sinful as any other type of sexual gestures and touchings. It is sensual ... an excitement to lust'........


Never Say Never Again? Plan for Paisley biopic

Owen Bowcott, Ireland correspondent
Thursday March 22, 2007
The Guardian

It could never be promoted as The Quiet Man. But news that a film is to be made about the life of the hellfire preacher and maverick politician Ian Paisley has generated a tide of speculation about its title and who might star in the central role.
The Belfast playwright Gary Mitchell has confirmed that he has been commissioned by the Paisley family to prepare a script about the 80-year-old MP and leader of the Democratic Unionist party who, by next week, could be first minister of Northern Ireland. "I think it is a tremendous opportunity to explore and expose the great man and all his vices and all his virtues," said Mitchell, whose plays have dealt with the destructive impact of the troubles on the lives of ordinary people in loyalist communities.

Asked who should take the star role, Mitchell told BBC Radio Ulster: "It's up for grabs. What's important is that it's going to be a major person and one who has the ability to play such an icon."
Some funds have already been raised, but no actors have been chosen. The family is keen to use local talent for supporting parts. Ian Paisley junior, a Northern Ireland assembly member, will be executive producer, ensuring that the final version has the approval of the family.
Liam Neeson is one suggestion for the lead. The Ballymena-born Oscar nominee, whose roles have included the IRA leader Michael Collins, is reportedly interested, but his relationship with his native town and Mr Paisley, who represents it at Westminster, has been uneasy. The actor was offered the freedom of Ballymena by the local council, but declined the honour after saying that, as a Catholic, he had felt like a "second-class citizen" growing up in the town.
The Quiet Man was a 1952 Irish film starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. A more obvious title for the Paisley biopic would be The Big Man, his affectionate nickname. Bloggers on the Northern Ireland political website Slugger O'Toole yesterday ran through other possibilities, including Look Back in Anger, Rebel Without a Cause, Never Say Never Again and Doctor Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Warmongering and Love the Ex-Bomber - a reference to the DUP sharing government with Sinn Féin.
Robbie Coltrane emerged as a popular nominee for the lead, along with Brian Blessed and Richard Griffiths. The frizzy-haired Art Garfunkel, one person insisted, was a sure match for Martin McGuinness, Sinn Féin's chief negotiator who is likely to become the deputy first minister.
The biopic will be able to pick over more than 50 years of political confrontation and firebrand oratory spanning the troubles. It is also likely to focus on the less public side of the family man whose ready wit has built up his popularity among unionists. Another Northern Ireland film company has already won funding for a film about Mr Paisley, but does not have the support of the family.
Mitchell, brought up in the loyalist Ratchcoole area of north Belfast, has written for television and film before. His plays, including As The Beast Sleeps and The Force of Change, have been performed in London, Dublin and Belfast.

Tough talk: Sayings of the big man

· 'Ulster says No!'

· 'She, the Queen, has become a parrot'

· 'There is not one country in the world which could accept armed gunmen, thugs and murderers with their hands dripping with the blood of their countrymen into government'

· 'I couldn't care less what people say about me, either when I'm living or dead. All I can say is, I'll not be changing'

· 'We are not prepared to stand idly by and be murdered in our beds'

· 'I will go to the grave with the convictions I have'

· 'Line dancing is as sinful as any other type of sexual gestures and touchings. It is sensual ... an excitement to lust'

ChristineCB

STOP IT! STOP IT! I've cleaned ALL my computer screens and keyboards too many times already this week! STOP IT!

Harleybloke

The 'Big Yin'................Billy Connolly.

...Mmmmmm....not sure he'd want the part.....

Moor Larkin

The Big Man does seem more Scottish than he does Irish, doesn't he.....



*lights blue paper and runs away*