Sky1 Sets Cast for Skellig

LONDON, September 2:
Production has begun on Skellig,
an adaptation of David Almond’s bestselling novel, to be broadcast on Sky1 and
Sky1 HD in spring 2009, followed by a release in cinemas worldwide.

Academy Award-nominee Tim
Roth (The Incredible Hulk, Funny
Games) has been tapped for the
title role, leading a cast that includes Kelly MacDonald (No Country for Old Men, Trainspotting), Bill Milner (Son of Rambow, Is there Anybody There?) and John Simm (Life on Mars, State of Play).

Skellig, directed by Annabel Jankel, will principally be shot on location in and around
Cardiff. A
Feel Films/Taking A Line For A Walk Production for Sky1 in association with the
Wales Creative IP Fund and Limelight, Skellig is the first production
to benefit from Sky1’s multimillion-pound HD drama investment fund.

Sarah
Conroy, the commissioning editor of drama for Sky1, commented: “David Almond's
much-loved novel is the perfect production to showcase Sky1's drama ambitions.
Feel Films and Annabel Jankel have delivered an exceptional script that has
attracted some of the best on-screen talent and we know this project will
appeal to the child in all of us.”

—By
Kristin Brzoznowski