A “dream project” has become a reality for Enniskillen film producer Brian J. Falconer, who has been named lead producer on a new film starring Liam Neeson which will begin filming in Belfast this July.

Liam Neeson and Lesley Manville are set to star in Normal People, directed by Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn, based on the script by celebrated Irish playwright Owen McCafferty and produced BAFTA award-winner Brian J. Falconer for Out of Orbit, David Holmes for Canderblinks Films and Piers Tempest for Tempo Productions.
Brian – who won a 2015 BAFTA for his work on the Academy Award Nominated Boogaloo and Graham and also produced an ad campaign which won a 2016 Royal Television Society Award – brought the Normal People project through development into production.
“Normal People is a project that is very close to all our hearts and working with Lisa, Glenn, Owen and David has been a constant inspiration to me,” he commented.
He thanked Bankside Films, Head Gear Films, Northern Ireland Screen and the BFI, who have been “wonderfully supportive” and added: “We could not wish for better partners in making this dream project become a reality.”


Directors Barros D’Sa and Leyburn stated: “Normal People takes an extraordinary look at ordinary love. It explores big questions and small moments of human connection with unique wit and warmth and a luminous and unflinching candour. We are thrilled at the prospect of bringing this beautiful, honest and unsentimental story to life with Liam Neeson and Lesley Manville in the starring roles, two of the most remarkable actors working on screen today.”
The film will feature Joan and Tom who have been married for many years. There is an ease to their relationship which only comes from spending a life time together and a depth of love which expresses itself through tenderness and humour in equal part. When Joan is unexpectedly diagnosed with breast cancer, the course of her treatment shines a light on their relationship as they are faced with the challenges that lie ahead and the prospect of what might happen if something were to happen to her. Normal People is a story about love, survival and the epic questions life throws at each and every one of us.
Head Gear Films, Northern Ireland Screen and the BFI, which is supporting the film with National Lottery funding, and a private investment vehicle are the film’s financiers. 
Principal photography commences in early July on location in Belfast.