You’ll Never Believe Who’s Dead hits the film market

Ardal O’Hanlon is to star in a comedy heist caper described as ‘Ireland’s first cynical Christmas comedy film’.

You’ll Never Believe Who’s Dead is being unveiled to buyers at the European Film Market, which opens today.

The cast also includes Michelle Fairley, who played Catelyn Stark in Game of Thrones, Ruth Codd, as seen in Celebrity Traitors, and Stephen Rea. Simone Kirby, who co-created the RTÉ comedy sketch show Meet Your Neighbours, and rugby-player-turned-actor Peter Claffey round out the cast.

You’ll Never Believe Who’s Dead revolves around an Irish family who reunite for Christmas and get talking about a recent local robbery and how they would have done it better – before putting their theory to the test. 

The film is the feature debut for director Dallan Shovlin, who also wrote the script. He was previously second assistant director on Kneecap – the comedy-drama about the controversial  Irish hip-hop crew.

Shovlin told trade website Screen Daily: ‘I was drawn to aspects of how we show up for each other at Christmas. The way in which families communicate their needs, or don’t, at this most vulnerable time of year. 

‘The key to a good comedy is that no one realises they’re in one, and that became our north star.’

Father Ted star O’Hanlon can now be seen in How To Get To Heaven From Belfast, the latest project from Derry Girls creator Lisa McGee, which landed on Netflix today. He will also be on tour from next month with his stand-up show Not Himself (Ardal O’Hanlon tour dates)

You’ll Never Believe Who’s Dead is being sold by Bankside Films, which recently worked on Tim Key and Tom Basden’s The Ballad Of Wallis Island and Saipan, with Steve Coogan.

Published: 12 Feb 2026