Inversion - a disaster flick slated for a 2016 release is considering filming in Limerick, with Ireland increasingly pressed for studio space the county is the lead-runner to become the island's new hub for cinematic productions.
Limerick Leader reports that Philip Lee, a major producer who worked on The Dark Knight and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon recently spent a weekend in Limerick looking at possible filming locations.
The paper understands that several big budget Hollywood projects are considering setting up camp in the county to work in tandem with Ardmore Studios in Co.Wicklow.
The film which is most likely to come to Ireland is Inversion - IMDB offers a rather cryptic two-line description of the plot:
"The Earth gradually loses her gravity. A Chinese scientist and an American street-man trying to stop the chaos."
Scott Waugh, the former-stuntman who directed Need for Speed, and Act of Valour is rumoured to be attached to the project.
This news comes as Limerick City and County Council continue negotiations to purchase the former Dell building in Castletroy on the edge of the city.
It hopes to turn the 350,000 square foot facility into a major studio.
Speaking to Limerick Leader, a council spokesperson confirmed that Limerick is being actively touted as a film location, and that talks are "in final negotiations" to acquire the old Dell building.
Finance Minister and Limerick TD, Michael Noonan has also confirmed that he has met with a US film company who are interested in filming in the old Dell plant.
He added: "In the last Budget I expanded the tax incentives for film and television production. The changes have had the desired effect and have been welcomed by the industry with US film companies are seeing Ireland as a suitable and cost effective filming location."
The head of Disney in Ireland recently warned that a lack of studio space could lead to the country missing out on new investment opportunities.
Trish Long, general manager of Walt Disney Studios' distribution business in Ireland spoke to the Irish Independent - she said that there is a "huge" need for more studios. She adds that if there is no studio space available here, the UK offers a strong alternative to filmmakers:
"As the industry picks up, it's going to become more and more difficult, because if someone has a need for studio space and it can't be filled here, right on our doorstep is the UK - which has the most amazing infrastructure of studio space."
Ardmore Studios in Bray is the country's largest studio, and Siún Ní Raghallaigh, its chief executive says that it has been forced to turn away business.
