Valhalla Updates
Posted at 9:26 AM (PDT) on Tuesday, April 27, 2004


Belfast News Letter (Northern Ireland)
April 26, 2004

X-FACTOR SOUGHT FOR FILM

Young hopefuls turned out in their droves at the weekend for the opportunity of a lifetime as auditions were held at Maysfield Leisure Centre in Belfast to find a costar for X-Files actress Gillian Anderson.

She will be in Northern Ireland this summer to take the lead role in the film Valhalla.

The search is now on to find a young actor to play her son.


Daily Star
April 26, 2004

FROM BADDIE TO WORSE; CARLYLE IS VALHAL OF A VILLAIN

By Ruairi O'Kane

Movie baddie Robert Carlyle is set to take on his most evil role to date as a bloodthirsty Irish terrorist.

The Trainspotting star has signed up for the big screen flick Valhalla alongside X-Files beauty Gillian Anderson.

The 43-year-old Scot will play an assassin who is released from prison to find he has a son.

The low-budget project will chart his attempts to bond with his child and the mum played by Anderson.

Movie chiefs revealed the script was written specifically for Carlyle who impressed them with his roles as psychopath Begbie in Trainspotting and Bond villain Renard in The World is Not Enough. Writer Pearse Elliot admitted he never imagined Carlyle would accept the part, but he phoned out of the blue to say he wanted it.

He said: "Robert has a fantastic armoury and can petrify his audience with one glance, but can also show a sensitive side, which was vital for this role. I wrote the script with him in mind, but never expected he would take the part. But he phoned me one day to say he was interested and we talked it through. Robert bowled me over with his performances as serial killer Albie in Cracker and as Begbie in Trainspotting so I knew from the off he was perfect for this role. I'm delighted to have him and Gillian Anderson on side. Both are wonderfully talented actors."

Carlyle is said to be perfecting his Northern Irish accent before travelling to Belfast for filming next month.

The movie is scheduled for release in early 2006.