We are pleased to launch an exclusive first look at Timothy Spall and Colm Meaney in the UK poster for The Journey – the story of two of Northern Ireland’s political forces, loyalist Ian Paisley and former IRA Commander Martin McGuinness, forced together over the final peace agreement, who reluctantly begin to form a bond.
Related: Timothy Spall on playing David Irving in Denial
The poster in which Spall looks uncannily like how Ben Stiller would look in his dotage depicts both men in their stature of power yet divided by the title, a reference to the division of Ireland as it stands, in both its political and religious beliefs.
The Hole and Killing Bono director, Nick Hamm, takes the helm to bring to life a script from screenwriter and former journalist, Colin Bateman. Joining Meaney and Spall is somewhat of a stellar cast with Toby Stephens (Believe, The Machine, Severance), Freddie Highmore (The Golden Compass, The Spiderwick Chronicles) and Oscar-nominated John Hurt (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Hercules, The Elephant Man).
Greenroom Entertainment and Tempo Productions, Nick Hamm, Mark Huffam (The Martian), and Piers Tempest (Like Mind) produce, along with Matt Jackson and IM Global Founder and CEO Stuart Ford.
The Journey Official Synopsis
After 40 years of the troubles in Northern Ireland, the leading players meet at St. Andrews to try and hammer out a final and lasting peace agreement. The success of the talks depends on loyalist firebrand IAN PAISLEY and a former IRA Commander MARTIN McGUINNESS, two sworn enemies, agreeing to share power. With the talks in extreme crisis, the pair are forced by circumstance, or perhaps fate, to take a car journey together. After a series of initial bitter exchanges, their conversation begins to shift and cracks emerge in their armour. Watched by their colleagues back at St. Andrews the rivals not only discover that they are not that dissimilar but begin to forge a friendship.
