The Morrigan: Saffron Burrows to star in Irish horror film

Audience members disliked Saffron Burrows’ character in the 1999 shark thriller Deep Blue Sea so much, last minute reshoots were done specifically to kill her off in the climactic sequence (and more than twenty years later, fans are still asking to see the original version of the film). Here’s hoping things go better for her character in the upcoming Irish horror film The Morrigan, which Deadline reports has secured financing and is set to start filming on November 6th.

A feature expansion of a 16 minute short film writer/director Colum Eastwood (Black Medicine) made back in 2015, The Morrigan will follow a successful archaeologist but absentee mother who travels to Ireland to excavate a centuries old tomb. However, within the site lurks a danger hidden from mankind for centuries. Once it is unleashed she must battle to save her rebellious teenage daughter from possession by a vengeful ‘Pagan War Goddess’, known as The Morrigan.

Burrows is joined in the cast by James Cosmo (Game Of Thrones) and Toby Stephens (Die Another Day). The name of the actress who will be playing the rebellious teenage daughter has not yet been revealed. This project has a SAG-AFTRA interim agreement, so it will be able to go into production even if the SAG strike is still going on by November 6th.

Ashley Holberry and Gavin Cosmo Mehrtens of Cowboy Cosmonaut Films are producing The Morrigan. The financing is coming from Quickfire Films, Northern Ireland Screen, M2 Mediapost, and private equity.

AMP is handling the worldwide distribution sales, and the company’s James Norrie provided the following statement: “The Morrigan breathes new life into the demonic possession genre. With its rich pagan folklore it manages to be a balls to the wall horror, and a brilliant female-centric genre movie showcasing just how far a mother will go to protect her child. We are thrilled to be aboard.“

The Morrigan sounds interesting to me, so I look forward to seeing how it’s going to turn out.

Are you interested in seeing Saffron Burrows take on The Morrigan? Share your thoughts on this one by leaving a comment below.