Barry Keoghan to star alongside Riley Keough in Kantemir Balagov's Butterfly Jam

Dublin-born actor Barry Keoghan is in talks to star in Butterfly Jam, the first English-language film from Russian director Kantemir Balagov, Variety reports.

American actor and producer Riley Keough is also reportedly involved in negotiations to star alongside Keoghan.

The film is based on Balagov’s script, co-written by Marina Stepnova. Set in a US community of Circassian immigrants, it examines the relationship of a father and son as they run a struggling Circassian diner.

Balagov is best known for writing and directing the 2019 film Beanpole. The Russian drama premiered as part of the Un Certain Regard section of Cannes Film Festival, receiving the award for Best Director and Best Film in that category.

Beanpole was Russia’s entry into the 92nd Academy Awards' Best International Feature contest, making it onto the 2020 shortlist.

Balagov had been selected to direct the pilot episode of the hit television series The Last Of Us. Though he left the project, with showrunner Craig Marzin taking over, some of his footage was reportedly used in the final cut.

Pascal Caucheteux’s Why Not Productions, who produced Emilia Perez, is set to join Alexander Rodnyansky’s AR Content to produce Butterfly Jam. Rodnyasky also produced Beanpole.