Tipperary chosen as major location for €22m blockbuster movie God's Spy

The Swiss Cottage at Cahir along with the River Shannon in O'Brien's Bridge which straddles the Tipperary and Clare border are among locations for a major movie being shot in the Mid West at present.

Locations throughout Limerick, Clare and Tipperary will be transformed into 1940’s Germany this month, for the filming of a major feature film set during World War II.

O’Brien’s Bridge and the Shannon River will double as the Danube River while filming is also taking place at Swiss Cottage, and the Georgian Streets in Limerick city will stand in for 1940’s London; other locations include Fanore beach and Kinturk in county Clare.

God’s Spy, the true story a German theologian and pastor who stood up to the Nazis, is currently being filmed in the region and is directed by Todd Komarnicki, a prolific screenwriter, producer and novelist.   

Komarnicki’s credits include, Sully, directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Tom Hanks, and The Professor and the Madman’ starring Mel Gibson and Sean Penn. Komarnicki also produced the Christmas blockbuster favourite Elf, starring Will Ferrell.   

Set in Berlin during the Third Reich, God’s Spy tells the extraordinary true story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who lived his life with uncompromising political and spiritual courage while speaking truth to power in his attempt to save countless Jewish lives.

Bonhoeffer was among only a few clergy who was early to recognise the danger of Hitler’s anti-Semitic rhetoric and, while the German church acquiesced to Hitler, Bonhoeffer took him on - first from the  pulpit and then from the front lines. 

Director and screenwriter Todd Komarnicki said: “This is a movie about a man for all time. He was a fearless martyr who brought wartime atrocities to the world’s attention and wouldn’t be silenced even when no one believed him.” 

Executive producer Mark O’Sullivan added: “An incredibly important and poignant story, this film is being made to remind us that the truth always sets us free no matter the cost. Dietrich paid the ultimate price for the truth he proclaimed and that is a story not just of another time, but for all time.” 

The producers of the €22-million Irish-Belgian co-production, whose base is at Innovate Limerick’s Engine building in the city, have been working closely with Film in Limerick to achieve their vision here.   

 Speaking about the visiting production, Regional Film Manager, Paul C Ryan said: “It’s just brilliant to have Todd and his team filming in Limerick and Clare and Tipperary. We’re delighted to see so many locally based crew working on this film and to showcase all that the Mid-West has to offer as a film-friendly location for such major productions”.   

Director Komarnicki commenting on why he chose the Mid-West to film in said: “We searched high and low for the right location to film God’s Spy and the region came out tops for us. The talented crew base, unbelievable locations, and above all a willingness from the councils to do what it takes to support a production of this scale, made all the difference. We have had an incredible experience filming here in the Mid-West”.  

As well as utilising locally-based crew, God’s Spy has some major international talents on board.

Director of Photography  is Oscar-nominated and BAFTA-winning cinematographer John Mathieson (Gladiator, The Phantom of the Opera, Pan), and the production designer is John Beard (Brazil, The History Boys).

Jonas Dassler, breakout  star of The Golden Glove, plays the lead role as the legendary German pastor alongside Flula Borg (The Suicide Squad, Pitch Perfect 2), David Jonsson (Rye Lane, Industry), August Diehl (Inglourious Basterds, A Hidden Life), Moritz Bleibtreu (World War Z, Run Lola Run), and Clarke Peters (The Wire, The Man Who Fell to Earth).