Dublin – The extraordinary story of Westlife, one of the world’s most successful boybands, is officially headed to the big screen. A full-scale biopic chronicling the Irish group’s meteoric rise, inner struggles, and industry battles has been greenlit, with production set to begin later this year.
Acclaimed director Stephen Daldry, known for Billy Elliot, The Hours, and The Reader, will direct the film. This marks a major cinematic event, with the €10 million production backed by a coalition of Irish, Belgian, Luxembourgish, and Canadian partners. Dublin-based Element Pictures is leading the charge, with support from key European film funding bodies and private backers.
The film promises an unfiltered and emotionally rich depiction of Westlife’s journey—from their early days in Dublin to global superstardom. While celebrating their chart-topping achievements, the narrative will dive into the less glamorous realities: backstage tensions, private struggles, and intense industry rivalries, including a reportedly heated feud with the Backstreet Boys during the peak of the late 1990s pop boom.
Casting is well underway. Rising Irish actor Peter Coonan (Love/Hate, King Frankie) is slated to play Brian McFadden, while Paul Mescal (Normal People, All of Us Strangers) will portray Shane Filan. In a surprise addition, Aidan Gillen (Peaky Blinders, Game of Thrones) has signed on to play Westlife’s longtime manager Louis Walsh.
The screenplay is being finalized by Mark O’Halloran, and excitement is building rapidly as the production gears up for shooting. With more casting news expected soon, fans of Westlife and pop music history alike will be eagerly watching this cinematic tribute take shape.
