Shepherds and Butchers starts shooting in June in Sou Africa

Award-winning English actor Steve Coogan, best known for his role in Philomena and for his English comic persona Alan Partridge, is to feature in a South African-based film, Shepherds and Butchers.

The film is based on Chris Marnewicks book of the same name, about a story that made headlines across South Africa in 1987. It tells of a young warden, arrested after killing seven black members of a karate team in a senseless shooting spree. He admits his guilt but refuses to talk about his crime.

Coogan plays the role of jaded lawyer Johan Weber, who takes on an apparently hopeless murder case, to defend the traumatised prison guard.

While building his defence Weber uncovered glitches in the South African capital punishment system, news website Deadline reports.

Shepherds and Butchers will be directed by renowned South African film director and screenwriter Oliver Schmitz, whose film Mapansula was featured at the Cannes Film Festival.

Schmitz has also won a Golden Horn for best screenwriter in a feature film for Life, Above All.

Filming begins in June and will be co-produced by Brian Cox and Anant Singh, who also produced Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom.

Coogans most acclaimed filmwork is the comedy/drama Philomena, which he co-wrote, produced and starred in. His performance landed him a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination.

Since Philomena, Coogan has had a small role in Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, and will have a voice role in the Despicable Me spin-off Minions.

He also has a new starring role on TV in Happyish, a Showtime comedy drama that was originally set to star Philip Seymour Hoffman.

www.thetimes.co.za

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