“Derry Girls” creator Lisa McGee has started production on her upcoming comedy thriller series “How to Get to Heaven From Belfast” in Northern Ireland and has revealed the lead cast for the Netflix show.
Roísín Gallagher (“The Dry,” “The Lovers”), Sinéad Keenan (“Little Boy Blue,” “Unforgotten”) and Caoilfhionn Dunne (“A Thousand Blows,” “Industry”) will play Saoirse, Robyn and Dara, three childhood friends, now in their late 30s, who come together over news of a fourth friend’s death, leading them on a what’s described as a “dark, dangerous and hilarious odyssey” through Ireland and beyond as they try to piece together the truth of the past.
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“I couldn’t be more excited to start production on ‘How To Get To Heaven From Belfast,'” said McGee, who create and wrote the series and serves as exec producer. “I’ve loved writing Saoirse, Robyn and Dara — three flawed, funny women who are about to embark on the most thrilling and terrifying adventure of their lives. A mystery full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing and make you laugh out loud. Let’s go girls!”
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Produced by Hat Trick Productions, the 8-part series — being directed by “Derry Girls” helmer Michael Lennox — was initially announced by Channel 4, but moved to Netflix earlier this year, with Channel 4 citing “changes in editorial direction,” “rising costs” and the “recent cooling in the U.S. co-production market.”
“Clever, chaotic TV writer Saoirse, glamorous, stressed-out mother of three Robyn, and dependable, inhibited carer Dara have been a tight-knit group since school,” reads the synopsis. “Now in their late 30s, but still as close as ever, these three friends are about to embark on the most thrilling adventure of their lives. When an email arrives, telling them about the death of the estranged fourth member of their childhood gang, Greta, a series of eerie events at her wake set them on a dark, dangerous and hilarious odyssey through Ireland and beyond as each tries to piece together the truth of the past. A show about friendship, memory and what happens when life doesn’t turn out quite like you’d expected.”
Brian J. Falconer produces, while executive producers include McGee, Lennox, Caroline Leddy (“Derry Girls”, “The Inbetweeners”), Liz Lewin (“Derry Girls,” “The Lovers”) and Jimmy Mulville.