Paramount takes UK rights to Killing Bono from Salt

Paramount has struck a deal with sales company Salt to acquire Killing Bono for the UK and Ireland.

Nick Hamm’s Irish comedy stars Ben Barnes (Prince Caspian, Easy Virtue) and Robert Sheehan (Season of the Witch) and is based on Neil McCormick’s autobiography. Barnes and Sheehan play hapless brothers who set up a band in Dublin in the late 1970s; unluckily their classmates and rivals go on to become megastars U2.

The film wrapped shooting in Belfast in February and is currently in post-production. It shot on location in Northern Ireland with additional shooting in Dublin and London.

Andrew Cripps, President of Paramount Pictures International, said: “Killing Bono is a well written, funny and highly entertaining film that we think will be very commercial in both the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Paramount is very pleased and proud to be part of this exciting project”.

The cast also features Krysten Ritter, Peter Serafinowicz, Stanley Townsend, Ralph Brown, Luke Treadaway, and Pete Postlethwaite. Martin McCann (Clash of the Titans) plays teenage U2 frontman Bono.

Producers are Ian Flooks for Wasted Talent, Hamm for Greenroom Entertainment, Mark Huffam for Generator and Piers Tempest for The Salt Company.

McCormick’s autobiography, titled I Was Bono’s Doppelganger in the UK, was adapted by Dick Clement & Ian Le Frenais and Simon Maxwell.

Music industry veterans Tarquin Gotch, Mike Hedges and Joe Echo served as music supervisor, producer and composer, respectively.

Killing Bono is backed by Isotope Films, Matador Pictures, Cinema Three, Regent Capital, Molinare, Silver Reel, Sony Music Entertainment UK (which will release the soundtrack worldwide), and Northern Ireland Screen.