AWARD-winning actor Timothy Spall is set to play Ian Paisley in a new movie - but speculation was rife last night about who will fill the shoes of Martin McGuinness.
Dubliner Colm Meaney is among those being mooted to portray the Deputy First Minister in The Journey, which is due to start filming in September.
The film is described as a fictional take on the relationship between the once sworn political enemies who became unlikely friends leading a power-sharing Stormont executive.
Belfast-born director Nick Hamm, best known for 2001's The Hole and Killing Bono in 2011, will direct the movie from a screenplay by Co Down novelist Colin Bateman.
Mr Bateman (53), from Bangor, yesterday expressed his excitement over the film and confirmed Spall's role as firebrand preacher turned First Minister Mr Paisley.
He wrote on Facebook: "Pleased to report that I'm back in the movie business. Filming starts at the end of September on my screenplay for The Journey, a drama based on the relationship between Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness.
"Director is Nick Hamm, and Timothy Spall will be playing Dr Paisley. Casting for Martin McGuinness is currently taking place. All very exciting!"
Filming is expected to begin in Northern Ireland and Scotland by the end of September.
Deadline Hollywood had reported that Spall was in "advanced" talks to play former DUP leader Mr Paisley, who died in September last year.
Spall is a renowned English actor who has been cast in roles including Peter Pettigrew in the Harry Potter films and Winston Churchill in 2010's The King's Speech.
The 58-year-old won the best actor prize at Cannes last year for his role as the painter JMW Turner in Mike Leigh's critically praised Mr Turner.
However, with a height of under 5ft 7in, the acclaimed actor may need to rely on some clever camerawork to pull off Mr Paisley's stature of more than 6ft.
Spall's upcoming work includes Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland sequel Alice Through The Looking Glass, reprising his voice role for the character of Bayard the Bloodhound.
It is thought the part of Ian Paisley could also have significant awards season potential after previous successes for politics-based screenplays.
Actress Meryl Streep won an Oscar for her portrayal of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in 2012's The Iron Lady.
With Spall's role confirmed, attention has now shifted to who will play veteran Sinn Fein man McGuinness, with Meaney and Lisburn actor Richard Dorner among suggestions.
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:: Who could play Martin McGuinness on the big screen?
The web was alive last night with speculation over who could be cast as Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness in The Journey.
Several names have been mooted as possibilities for the leading role – with some more plausible than others.
Dublin actor Colm Meaney is thought to be a good candidate due to his visible likeness to the 65-year-old Stormont Deputy First Minister.
The 62-year-old, known for his roles in leading shows such as Star Trek, also backed Mr McGuinness in his bid to become president of Ireland in 2011.
Others suggestions include Trainspotting's Peter Mullan (55) and Lisburn actor Richard Dormer (45), who has had roles in dramas including HBO series Game of Thrones.
Among the less likely candidates put forward by internet users are 50-year-old US comedy actor John C Reilly and 73-year-old American singer Art Garfunkel, to whom McGuinness has jokingly acknowledged comparisons.
