A FILM starring Ray Winstone and co-financed by the band Coldplay is to be made in the Isle of Man.
CinemaNX and Isle of Man Film have announced Ashes will be directed by Mat Whitecross whose previous credits include Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll starring Andy Serkis.
Principal photography begins on the contemporary film noir, which is written by Paul Viragh and Mat Whitecross, on Monday.
It is also co-financed by Merzbau and produced by Fiesta Productions.
Clare Christian MLC, Department of Economic Development member with responsibility for film and media said: "We are very happy to welcome Ashes to the Island, particularly at this time of year when the holiday traffic has yet to materialise.
"The exceptionally talented cast and crew will be filming at various locations around the Island for four weeks which will get our 2011 production schedule off to an excellent start."
Ray Winstone's film credits include Cold Mountain, King Arthur, The Proposition, The Departed, Beowulf, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and Edge of Darkness.
He has won a number of awards, in particular for his performances in both Nil By Mouth and Sexy Beast.
Also in the cast are Jim Sturgess, Lesley Manville, Jodie Whittaker and Luke Evans.
Jim Sturgess' credits include Across The Universe, 21, The Other Boleyn Girl, Fifty Dead Men Walking, The Way Back, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'hoole and NX's Heartless.
He has just finished work on One Day based on the best-selling novel by David Nicholls and co-starring Anne Hathaway.
Award winning actress Lesley Manville's credits include Another Year (2011 Bafta nomination), Vera Drake, All or Nothing, Topsy-Turvy, High Hopes and Cranford (TV).
The film is being produced by Esther Douglas and Fiona Neilson of Fiesta Productions.
Executive producers are Steve Christian and Marc Samuelson of CinemaNX, Phillip Keir of Merzbau and Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion and Chris Martin of Coldplay.
The script has been developed with the assistance of Northern Film and Media, UKFC VISION and MEDIA programme.
