Czech musician and star of Once, Marketa Irglova, is in talks to appear in an upcoming project from veteran director Juraj Herz.

Irglova, who co-wrote and performed Once's Oscar-winning song 'Falling Slowly' with Glen Hansard, is in negotiations to play a main supporting role in psychological horror Darkness.

Produced by Prague-based Film Studio Gatteo, Darkness tells the story of a man who returns to the house where he grew up only to be haunted by visions of the past and his own family history.

The main role will be played by Czech-born French actor Ivan Franek. Irglova would play opposite Franek as the love interest.

The production is the first majority production for Gatteo, which has served as co-producer and service provider on many international projects, most recently providing services for Davis Films' Solomon Kane. Slovak production company Arina is attached as a co-producer. Gatteo is negotiating with a Polish co-producer.

Budget for the project is currently estimated at $1.9m (CZK 30m). Filming is scheduled to begin in autumn, with a release slated for 2009.
Slovak-born director Herz is best known to international audiences for The Cremator (1968), Beauty And The Beast (1978), and Day For My Love, which was nominated for Berlin's Golden Bear in 1977.

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