Cast announced for new Netflix series 'How To Get To Heaven From Belfast'

Author: Emma DicksonPublished 1st Jul 2024
Last updated 1st Jul 2024

Derry Girls creator Lisa McGee has just announced started production on her upcoming Netflix series 'How to Get to Heaven From Belfast'.

Speaking to Variety, McGee also revealed the lead cast for the comedy thriller series.

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.

The plot for 'How to Get to Heaven From Belfast' follows 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.

"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," exlplains McGee.

"A mystery full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing and make you laugh out loud. Let’s go girls!”

Production for the 8-part series has started here in Northern Ireland, we'll keep you posted on more updates from the cast and crew.

Check out some of the other shows filmed in Northern Ireland this year👇

Blue Lights

The gripping BBC One drama following the rookie PSNI officers face the danger of their job in Belfast is said to be back on our screens, possibly by spring.

The first season of this series which aired in 2023 massed over six million viewers. The viewers acclaimed the show for its powerful realism, dark humour, and amazing cast.

It is suggested that most of the original cast will reappear for the next season!

Kneecap

A biopic following KNEECAP, accounts how fate brought this trio together and challenge the "change the sound of Irish music forever"

Set in West Belfast 2019, the story follows the origin story of the ground-breaking Irish-language rap trio, starring Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and Dj Próvaí in their acting debeut, along with Academy Award nomination Michael Fassbender.

This will be the first Irish language film to have been selected at Sundance, and the first non-US film to ever be selected for the NEXT section festival.

There has been no official theatre release date as of yet, however the band have said they are excited to premier in cinemas in 2024.

Wreck

After filming the second series last year the comedy horror series is directed by Northern Irish director Chris Baugh.

Following the dramatic events unfolded in the last sries, the Valorum corporation are out for blood, planning to hunt down the gang responsibe for overthrowing the ship.
After Jamie and Vivian failed to expose the corporations killer secret, they are determined to rally the shipmated to expose the next big thing in twisted entertainment.

While an official air date has not been released, IMDB had credited that the series 2 premier as happening in April 2024.

How to get to Heaven from Belfast

Derry Girls creator Lisa McGee is coming back to our tv screens with her new show. Following long-time friends Saoirse, Robyn and Dara, now in their late 30s leading very different lives. After the girls attend a funeral of a classmate they stumble upon a mystery.

This comedy thriller will be an eight-part series aired on channel 4.
No release date has been confirmed just yet, however I am sure we will all be waiting in anticipation.

Dead and Buried

Dead And Buried brings together the talents of writer Colin Bateman - the master of twisted plots and black comedy with a fabulous cast including lots of famous faces from Northern Ireland.
Filming has just started for this BBC series Dead, so we expect to see the thriller on screens next year.

Lift

Back in 2022 American comedian and actor Kevin Hart was spotted outside the Crown Bar in Belfast. It has been said that he was filming his new comedy heist movie 'Lift'.

Following a 'master thief' charmed by his ex-girlfriend and the FBI to pull off an impossible heist with only his international crew on a full passenger flight from London to Zurich.

This hilarious and gripping action comedy is set to be released on Netflix this month.

Four Letters of Love

Former James Bond star Pierce Brosnan was spotted in County Antrim in early 2023 filming for his upcoming romantic blockbuster.

Brosnan will be starring alongside Helena Bonham Carter in this new adaptation of Four Letters of Love, based on the international best-selling novel by Niall William.

This story follows Nicholas and Isabel and how they were made for each other, but how will they ever know it? As ghosts, fate and the power of true love pull them together, life threatens to tear them apart.

Directed by Polly Steele, the film is currently in post-production, and a release date has not been announced yet, other than it is said to come out this year.

Old Guy

Adding to the list of big names spoeed in Northern Ireland, Oscar winner Christoph Waltz was seen filming with Lucy Liu and Copper Hoffman in Belfast for the comedy film Old Guy, directed by Simon West and written by Greg Johnson.

The story follows an aging hitman Danny Dolinski who still believes he is the best at his job.
Stuck at a dead end while still fighting for the love of club manager Anata, Danny is delighted when he gets called back into the field, only to train an upcoming Gen Z prodigy assassin.

The cast is said to include local actor Desmond Eastwood, best known for his role in Normal People and Blue Lights.

As filming began in 2023, it is anticipated that the film will be released this year.

Showtrial

With filming currently taking place in Belfast, the BBC legal drama will return for a second series.

Centred around a new hotly contested criminal trial dividing the nation and takes place in the centre of the medias spotlight.

The high-profile climate activist Marcus Calderwood is left for dead in a violent hit-and-run attack, in his last minutes of life he helps to identify the killer – a serving policeman.

Through the series, discover who is 'Officer X' and whether this was a careless accident or cold-blooded murder.

Read more:

45 hilarious Derry Girls quotes that still make us laugh today

Series 2 of Irish crime drama Kin has landed on Netflix

Michael J Fox reflects on 'mind-blowing' Glastonbury performance with Coldplay

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