Olivia Colman

Source: Dillon Bryden

Olivia Colman

Olivia Colman is to star in upcoming Irish feature Joyride, which Embankment will introduce to buyers at the AFM this week.

Shooting is set to begin along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way in 2021, produced by Dublin-based Subotica. UK-based Embankment is also on board as executive producer.

It will mark the feature directorial debut of Emer Reynolds, who won an Emmy in 2018 with space documentary The Farthest. The script was written by Ailbhe Keogan and developed in partnership with Screen Ireland.

Producers are Aoife O’Sullivan and Tristan Orpen Lynch.

Colman, who will next be seen reprising her Golden Globe-winning role as the Queen in Netflix series The Crown, will star as a woman (called Joy) who decides to go on an adventure across Ireland with her newborn baby, which she is preparing to give away to her best friend. What she doesn’t expect is for a young boy, who is running from his own set of problems, to jump in her car and join the road trip. Together, they both go on the run.

Further casting is underway.

Embankment co-founder Tim Haslam described the project as “a feelgood, foul-mouthed fairy-tale”.

Colman, who won the leading actress Oscar for her performance in The Favourite, will also next be seen in Florian Zeller’s The Father opposite Anthony Hopkins.