It has been confirmed that Fionn O’Shea will play a young Beckett while Gabriel Byrne will play an older version of the literary giant.

Inspired by Beckett’s maxim “dance first, think later,” the film will detail the many parts of the writer’s life. Directed by James Marsh, the film is expected to be released in the next three years.

O’Shea, best known for his roles in Normal People and Handsome Devil, was announced as part of the cast alongside Game of Thrones star Aidan Gillen earlier today.

Marsh described the premise of the film to Variety last November: “Dance First’ is an imaginative, playful and often poignant account of the life of Samuel Beckett. The film has a bold structure that sees Beckett discussing his life’s mistakes with another version of himself, an antagonistic alter ego. But you don’t need to be a student of Beckett to enjoy this film – the script is both witty and dramatic, focusing on the key relationships in his life and including some startling episodes such as his active involvement in the French Resistance and his near-fatal stabbing by a pimp in Paris.”

“We have Gabriel Byrne attached to play both the mature Beckett and his alter-ego and we expect to build a powerful ensemble cast around him.”

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