A new Netflix series produced by Barack and Michelle Obama is set to begin filming in Cork next week.
Saturday Night Live star Will Forte has been signed up for a leading role in the dark comedy, called Bodkin.
Irish actors Siobhan Cullen, Young Offenders actor Chris Walley and Intermission actors David Wilmot will also star in the seven-episode thriller for the small screen.
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The former US President and First Lady are listed among five executive producers on the series which will be shot in the south of Ireland over the summer.
Bodkin centres around a motley crew of podcasters who set out to investigate the mysterious disappearance of three strangers in an idyllic, coastal Irish town.
But once they start pulling at threads, they discover a story much bigger and weirder than they could have ever imagined.
As the podcasters try to discern fact from fiction — about the case, about their colleagues, and, most painfully, themselves — the series challenges perceptions of truth.
It is the first drama series from Higher Ground – founded by the former US president Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama – and the independent wiip studio for Netflix.
“We are ecstatic to partner with wiip for this wickedly wry thriller which questions truth, narrative, and the very purpose of each,” said Higher Ground Head of Film and Television, Tonia Davis.
She added: “This entire creative team - Jez, Alex, Nash, and the phenomenal cast led by Will Forte and Siobhan Cullen - will bring to life something very special and we can’t wait to share it with audiences around the world.”
Nebraska star Will Forte plays a charming and enthusiastic American podcaster called Gilbert Power in the series.
Originally from Chicago, Gilbert's family emigrated from Cork, and is hoping to discover his Irish roots while working on the Irish story.
US actress Robyn Cara’s character Emmy is described as an eager-to-please researcher who has been helping Gilbert organize this podcast.
Irish actress Siobhan Cullen plays a Dubliner called Dove, who is described as a “hard-nosed investigative journalist”.
“She believes she just tells the truth, which makes her completely blind to her own bullshit and hypocrisy. She's also funny. And brave. And brilliant”, said a Netflix release.
It added: “ She can also be extremely charming and persuasive. Unfortunately, she's in the middle of the biggest professional crisis of her career — and when you live your life as a lone wolf, your career tends to be all you have.”
Station’s Eleven’s David Wilmott plays Seamus Gallagher who is described as “mercurial and mysterious”.
While Offenders actor Chris Walley plays Sean O’Shea, a “typical country lad” from the village of Bodkin.
The showrunner for the project are Jez Scharf and Alex Metcalf and the series will be directed by Nash Edgerton.
The Obamas launched Higher Ground Productions after they left the White House. Netflix has already released, Becoming, a behind-the-scenes documentary that followed the first lady on her book tour promoting her memoir.
It is understood the production company has multiple projects in development.
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