A film adaptation of Night Boat To Tangiers is in the works

Based on the Kevin Barry book published in 2019, an all-star Irish cast is set to star in a movie adaptation of Night Boat To Tangiers. The 2019 Kevin Barry novel of the same name tells the tale of Charlie and Maurice - both professional criminals from Cork- who find themselves in Spain searching for the missing daughter of Maurice. The story’s entire series of events take place within a Spanish port over the course of 24 hours as the two criminals reminisce about the time they spent smuggling Moroccan hashish through Spain and into Ireland.

Domhnal Gleeson has been named for the role of Charlie, with Michael Fassbender taking on the part of Maurice. Oscar-nominated Ruth Negga will portray Cynthia- the character who is the brains behind the criminals' management. Whilst Kevin Barry is adapting the script himself, Oscar-winning James Marsh, who has previously worked on Man On Wire and The Theory Of Everything, has been named as the forthcoming project’s director.

Speaking of the upcoming movie, Marsh has said, "Kevin’s script is a beautiful piece of writing. Underneath the dazzling surface wit and propulsive storytelling, there are surprising and very moving emotional undercurrents to be discovered. The story is built around love and tenderness amidst all the macho posturing and violence and the female characters are as strong and powerful as the men. It’s an incredibly exciting prospect."

Night Boat To Tangiers is expected to appear in cinemas sometime in 2024 as the project is set to be shopped to potential distributors at this year’s Cannes in May.