The Professor and the Madman tells the story of the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary and sees Mel Gibson play its author Professor James Murray. Sean Penn plays William Chester Minor, a doctor, but also an inmate, at an asylum for the criminally insane, who penned more than 10,000 entries for the dictionary.
The Professor and the Madman is based on a book of the same name by Simon Winchester, which Gibson acquired the rights almost 20 years ago. Irish based director John Boorman (Excalibur) worked on the original script alongside Todd Komarnicki (Perfect Stranger), with director Farhad Safinia completing the rewrite. Safinia co-wrote Apocalypto with Gibson, who produces for Icon Productions with partner Bruce Davey. Macdara Kelleher co-produces for Irish-based Fastnet Films, with international sales being handled by Voltage Pictures.
The film showcases up-and-coming local Irish talent Rob McCormack, Abigail Coburn, Zoe Moran, Phonsie Wardell, and Nora Cooper, cast from an extensive search as the family of Professor Murray. It also features international stars Natalie Dormer, Jeremy Irvine, and Ioan Gruffudd.
Irish talent on the film includes Costume Designer Eimer Ni Mhaoldomhnaigh, who did stunning work for Whit Stillman's Love & Friendship; Production Designer Tom Conroy (Legend); Location Manager Gordon Wycherley (Brooklyn); Make Up & Hair team Lynn Johnson (Apocalypto) and Lorraine Glynn (Brooklyn); and Production Coordinator Jane McCabe (Brooklyn).
The film has been mired in some legal wranglings in the US, but we hope to see it on the big-screen soon.
IRISH FILM PREVIEW 2018
CinÉireann / January 2018 83
THE PROFESSOR AND THE MADMAN
DIR: FARHAD SAFINIA
PRO: FASTNET FILMS
TBC