Clive Owen to star in Ulster Troubles film

The film, based on Tom Bradby’s novel Shadow Dancer, will be directed by James Marsh, who made the Oscar-winning documentary Man on Wire and Channel 4’s Red Riding Trilogy.

Marsh confirmed to New York Magazine’s Vulture blog he is about to start filming in Dublin in May.

Riseborough – who starred in Made In Dagenham and plays Wallis Simpson in Madonna’s forthcoming film – will star as former IRA terrorist turned MI5 informer Colette McVeigh.

Owen, known for films such as Children Of Men and Closer, portrays her MI5 handler, David Ryan.

Marsh said: “It’s much more like Red Riding, it’s a genre film, it’s a thriller.

“It’s very exciting to be doing something like that now, to have that kind of canvas to fill.

“It’s low-budget film, it’s not a Hollywood movie by any means.”

Guy Pearce and Rebecca Hall had previously been attached to star in the project.

Marsh revealed that the film would no longer be called Shadow Dancer.

He said: “It’s sort of between titles right now. I don’t think it’s quite the right title.

“It sounds a bit like Billy Elliot or something like that.”

Marsh revealed The Wire’s Aidan Gillen and Gillian Anderson – currently starring in the BBC drama The Crimson Petal And The White – have also joined the cast.