Michael Smiley and Ronan Raftery
APC Studios UK and Irish independent production company Magamedia have started principal photography on their brand-new Irish dark comedy crime drama "Obituary", which is being co-produced by APC and Magamedia for Hulu to premiere exclusively in the U.S. RTÉ in Ireland has pre-bought the series, which is being made in association with Fís Éireann/ Screen Ireland, BAI and The Wrap Fund.
A new line-up of renowned Irish actors has joined the ensemble cast including Michael Smiley (“Bad Sisters”); Ronan Raftery (“The Rook”, Mortal Engines); Danielle Galligan (“Shadow and Bone”), and David Ganly (“Body of Lies”).
They join acclaimed Irish TV and theatre actor Siobhán Cullen (“The Dry”) who takes the lead role of Elvira Clancy, an underpaid obituarist working at a small town newspaper in the 6 x one-hour episode series, which is written by award-winning Irish scriptwriter Ray Lawlor (“Le Ceangal”), directed by John Hayes (“Dublin Murders”) and produced by Nell Green (“The Outfit”).
APC Studios’ Laurent Boissel and Magamedia’s Paddy Hayes are executive producers of the series, which is being filmed in County Donegal in Ireland and will premiere on Hulu in the U.S. later this year. They say: “We are so excited to start filming 'Obituary' here in dramatic and rugged Donegal in the West of Ireland with such a stellar mix of acclaimed Irish actors from the worlds of television, film and theatre. They bring a depth of character and richness to our ensemble cast and perfectly complement the talents of our lead actor Siobhán.”
In "Obituary", 24-year-old Elvira Clancy is feeling unfulfilled, although she adores her job writing obituaries. When her newspaper falls on hard times, her boss tells her he is unable to keep her on the payroll and she finds herself being paid per obituary overnight. When she “accidentally” kills a nasty piece of work in the town, she discovers she might have an untapped bloodlust! She relishes using ever more crafty methods to kill off the town’s unpleasant residents while making them look like accidents.