Irish actor Brendan Gleeson has committed to star as Ireland’s winningest trainer, Dermot Weld, in The Cup, which goes into production later this month in Australia with Simon Wincer to direct. Weld enjoys the unique distinction of being the only international trainer to have twice won the Melbourne Cup: in 1993 with Vintage Crop and in 2002 with Media Puzzle. It is the latter victory that plays an integral part in the development of the film.

Thanks to a wide-ranging list of roles on screen and stage, Gleeson enjoys a vocal following in his native Ireland as well as internationally. The Emmy Award winner, shown here with In Bruges costar Colin Farrell on the red carpet at the 2009 Golden Globes, is best known for the role of Alastor “Mad-Eye” Moody in the Harry Potter franchise.

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