Lee Child, the author of the Jack Reacher series of crime thrillers, has become Executive Producer on The Visit, a fictional story based on the 1996 IRA bomb in Manchester.
The Visit, directed by Jake Murray, is being made by MancMade Productions and currently in pre-production, with filming set to start next month. The story is based around the fact the two bombers who drove the explosives-laden lorry have never faced justice.
It features actors Cal MacAninch (Trigger Point, Time) and Trevor Dwyer-Lynch, along with a supporting cast of emerging talent.
Writer and producer Paul Ludden, who is CEO of MancMade, approached the author – real name James Grant – after learning about the time he spent in the city living and working there, as a presentation director at Granada TV.
Child, whose Jack Reacher series of books have sold well over 100 million copies, said: “Manchester was a big part of my life for a long time, and I grew to love the kind of smart, committed, creative underground scene there.
“The MancMade people are today’s version, and a friend tipped me off about a project they had, called The Visit, which looked like it could be a real jewel, sharp, complex, and emotionally resonant, and I wanted to get involved, and I’m delighted they let me.”
Paul Ludden added: “It’s a huge honour to have Lee on board as Executive Producer for The Visit. His involvement allows our creative team to take production to another level and it’s great to have someone like Lee show real belief in a script that means so much to me personally.
“It’s also a massive moment in the development of MancMade Productions as a Productions Company dedicated to supporting and showcasing creative talent in Greater Manchester and the North.”
