Parallel Films announces details of The Siege of Jadotville, starring Fifty Shades of Grey’s Jamie Dornan.

Jamie Dornan has taken his first leading role since starring in upcoming erotic thriller Fifty Shades of Grey.

The actor will star in geo-political action thriller The Siege of Jadotville, directed by Richie Smyth and produced by Alan Moloney of Dublin and London-based Parallel Films.

Dornan said: “I can’t wait to get stuck into Jadotville. It’s an unbelievable story and Commandant Pat Quinlan is going to be a treat of a character to tackle.

“I’m a big fan of both Richie Smyth and Alan Moloney and I’m very much looking forward to working with them both.”

The film, written by Kevin Brodbin, will shoot in spring 2015 in Ireland and South Africa as soon as Dornan has finished his publicity commitments for Fifty Shades.

The project has been developed in association with the Irish Film Board and will be an official Ireland-South Africa co-production.

It marks the feature debut of Dublin-born Smyth, a veteran commercials and music video director who has worked with U2, The Verve, and Bon Jovi. He is currently filming in New York on a project for US cable network Showtime.

Speaking from New York, Smyth praised Dornan’s performance in TV series The Fall, in which he starred opposite Gillian Anderson.

Talking about Dornan’s involvement in the upcoming film, Smyth added: “He is perfectly cast in the lead role as Commandant Quinlan and has been instrumental in bringing this epic story to life.” 

The Siege of Jadotville is described as a geo-political action thriller, which centres on the siege of 150 UN Irish troops led by Commandant Pat Quinlan in the Congo in 1961 after the Pro-western leader Moise Tshombe took control of the Katanga region and killed the Congolese leader Patrice Lumumba.

Quinlan and his troops held out against a force of 3,000 local troops led by French and Belgian Mercenaries working for the mining companies. Dornan will play Commandant Pat Quinlan, the Irishman who led the UN battalion.

Dornan is represented by UTA in the US and United Agents in the UK. Smyth is represented by UTA.