Rea reveals Famine was ‘too heavy’ for Hollywood
STEPHEN Rea, star of the new Famine drama Black 47, has revealed the idea was previously killed off by Hollywood as it was considered too grim.
He recalled film executives blocking a movie on the Great Hunger more than 20 years ago.
‘They did try to do one in the 90s, I was invited to participate and someone in America said, “It’s very heavy. Couldn’t they lighten it?”, he told TodayFM. ‘My agent at the time said, “How are you going to lighten it? Feed them?”’
The Michael Collins star said he believes there will be strong interest in the movie in America as so many people’s ancestors date back to the 19th century.
‘The majority of [Irish] Americans left at the time of the Famine. They arrived in America then,’ he added.
The film centres on the story of Martin Feeney, played by Australian actor James Frecheville, a former British soldier who returns to Ireland to discover his family has been decimated by the Famine and sets out for revenge.
Rea, 71, said he was pleased to be part of the first major movie on the subject.
‘Nobody has taken it on. It’s a great thing to be part of,’ he added. ‘It’s great to initiate discussion.
‘It was genocide, there is no question about it.’
Directed by Lance Daly, the western-style Black 47 – which also stars Jim Broadbent, Barry Keoghan and Sarah Greene – is set to be released in Ireland, Britain and America next month.