The Alan Partridge Movie has been confirmed for release in Ireland on August 16 of next year, after French funders, StudioCanal picked it up.
Irish director Declan Lowney (who has helmed episodes of Father Ted, Little Britain and Chris O'Dowd's new show, Moone Boy) will call the shots on the long rumoured comedy. Partridge himself spewed, "I'm simultaneously gladdened and pleased to see a British film being co-funded by the French dudes at StudioCanal. This is without doubt the greatest Anglo-French co-operation since the Normandy landings. This time, the heroes aren't Allied servicemen - they're motion picture financiers, who are equally brave." He added, "I'd also like to add that 'canal' - or, in English, 'canal' - is a transportation system close to my heart. In the late 18th century, this new method of logistics halved the price of coal in many English cities. If StudioCanal's investment can achieve even a fraction of that, I will be delighted."
The brilliant Armando Iannucci worked on the script alongside Coogan, Peter Baynham and Neil and Rob Gibbons. Sheena has written about Moone Boy also... over yonder in our TV News Section.