Liam Neeson to Star in Movie About Irish Show Bands, Bono to Produce
Posted 09.04.09 by reelz
Variety reports that Liam Neeson has signed to star in The Virgin of Las Vegas, which recalls the phenomenon of Irish show bands. In the days before television became widespread, many Irish would go to live venues to see singers cover early rock and roll songs. The bands become increasingly popular in Ireland beginning in the 1950s and evenutally amassed large followings across the country.
This movie will see Neeson as an aging show band performer who has moved to Las Vegas and spends his days in a drunken haze until a mysterious stranger arrives to change his fortunes. The script is being penned by Barry Devlin, who also wrote A Man of No Importance, which tells the story of a gay Irish bus driver with a passion for Oscar Wilde plays. The connection, of course, is a maladjusted Irishman who finds redemption in the arts.
Although no other casting decisions have been announced, the movie does have another big name attached to it: U2 frontman Bono is acting as one of the producers. No other casting decisions have been announced, and the movie does not yet have a specific release date.