Hollywood Star For Belfast's Blockbuster

A leading Hollywood actress is on her way to Belfast to star in the multi-million dollar film.

Natalie Portman is to take a major role in the film, Your Highness, which will be shot in Belfast's Paint Hall, an increasingly popular studio facility in the city's Titanic Quarter.

The film gets underway in July with Universal Pictures funding the comedy, described as a "tale of two spoiled and arrogant princes in a medieval fantasy setting".

James Franco, who starred in Spiderman, will play one of the princes.

Danny McBride, who wrote the script with Ben Best, plays the other prince who is lazy and arrogant.

The two princes must complete a quest to save the kingdom.

Natalie Portman, famous for her roles in Star Wars and the Other Boleyn Girl, will play a warrior princess with whom the lazy prince falls in love.

It is estimated that the film could be worth £10m to the local economy, employing hundreds of cast, crew and extras from Northern Ireland.

Richard Williams, of Northern Ireland Screen, travelled to Hollywood with Stormont's First and Deputy First Ministers, Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness, in March to promote Northern Ireland as a film location.

Mr Robinson - a regular holiday-maker in the USA personally - said at the time: "This is a major boost for not only the local economy, but also for Northern Ireland's film industry.

"Northern Ireland has beaten off stiff competition from other regions and film commissions to secure this film and I am certain that the commitment displayed by Universal will lead to further investment by other US film/TV production companies.

"We look forward to seeing Your Highness and know that it will help put Northern Ireland on the map as a major location for the film industry."

Executive Vice President of Universal Pictures and Co-President of Production Jimmy Horowitz commented: "Filming Your Highness in Northern Ireland allows us to capture the extraordinary beauty and topography which resemble the Medieval European backdrop in which this story takes place.

"It also makes good financial sense given Northern Ireland's film incentive program, the favorable exchange rate and a local infrastructure that is well suited for this type of project.

"We appreciate the opportunity to work in Northern Ireland," he said.

See: Film Boost For Northern Ireland