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Major new Sophie Toscan du Plantier film in the works with Love/Hate star as A-list director promises ‘gripping viewing’

He has revealed some of the cast for the movie and the working title

• Published: 12:19, 11 Apr 2024

• Published: Invalid Date,

TOP director Jim Sheridan is to make a movie on the Sophie Toscan du Plantier murder – with chief suspect Ian Bailey in the dock.

My Left Foot director Sheridan revealed the new film will be based on the style of the legendary American movie 12 Angry Men, only this time longtime suspect Bailey, who died recently from a heart attack, will be on trial for murder.

The film will focus on all the real life evidence provided in the case so far and will concentrate on the interaction between the jurors.

Sheridan has spent over eight years working on the unsolved murder of French filmmaker Sophie in west Cork at Christmas 1996 and made the hit Sky documentary series Murder at the Cottage, which had record viewing figures across the globe.

He said: “I will be making a full drama movie on the Sophie case and it will be based on the idea from 12 Angry Men. It is an idea we have been working on for a while and I believe there is huge public interest in the story.”

Sheridan has not revealed who he wants to play Ian Bailey or Sophie but confirmed he has a working title Recreation.

12 Angry Men tells the story of a 18-year-old boy accused of killing his father and facing the death penalty if found guilty. But his guilt must be beyond reasonable doubt.

It shows the trials and tribulations between the jurors and 11 out of 12 are initially convinced he did it.

But after long heated conflict and exchanges, juror number eight persuades the rest of them that there is not enough evidence to convict the boy eventually leading to a not guilty verdict.

The 1957 movie which starred Henry Fonda is regarded as a Hollywood classic.

And Sheridan revealed some scenes for his new movie have already been filmed in a specially-made jury room studio in Luxembourg.

The famous Juror number eight will be played by actress Vicky Krieps, who starred in Phantom Thread with Daniel Day Lewis, and she will be advocating for Sophie du Plantier.

Sophie Toscan du Plantier’s son on RTE’s Late Late Show – saying he’s ‘ready to close chapter’ after Bailey death

Another main character, Juror Number 5 will be played by Love/Hate star John Connors.

Sheridan said: “One of the issues the film will explore is prejudice, especially against an English suspect in west Cork.”

And he refused to say if Bailey will be found innocent or guilty: “That would be giving the game away.”

He has argued for a long time that Bailey was innocent and that there was never enough hard evidence to convict him of the murder.

The 66-year-old Englishman, who died on January 21 last, was arrested twice for killing Sophie but never charged.

Right up to his death Bailey proclaimed his innocence and was convinced the 39-year-old mother-of-one was murdered by a hired hitman or a secret lover.

There was never any DNA evidence linking him to the crime scene, only circumstantial evidence.

Bailey did confess to a number of people that he carried out the horrendous crime but later claimed it was done in “black humour”.

But most of the evidence heard was based on hearsay and would not have been allowed in an Irish court of law.

He was sentenced to 25 years jail but the Irish courts refused to extradite him.

Sophie’s son Pierre Louis Baudey is absolutely convinced Ian Bailey killed his mother and refuses to contemplate any other suspects.

Sheridan is regarded as a world class film-maker after making smash hits like My Left Foot, In the Name of the Father and In America.

Sophie’s body was found on a lane 100 yards from her holiday home outside Schull after she was battered to death with a rock and hit over 50 times.

A Garda cold case review into her death is ongoing.