Max Films has tapped Irish actor Brendan Gleeson and Canadian thesp Taylor Kitsch to star in The Grand Seduction, the English-language remake of La Grand Seduction by director Don McKellar.

Gleeson is performing the role of Murray French, a local resident leading an effort to get Dr. Paul Lewis, played by Friday Night Lights’ Kitsch, to remain in the village permanently.

Gordon Pinsent

Also joining the cast for The Grand Seduction, which is budgeted at $12.5 million, is Gordon Pinsent, Mary Walsh, Cathy Jones and Liane Balaban.

Ken Scott was originally to direct the English-language version, but bowed out to direct DreamWorks’ remake of his hit Quebec film Starbuck.

So Max Films head Roger Frappier rejigged his own remake, which is now shooting in Newfoundland and is using a screenplay co-written by Scott and Michael Dowse.

Barbara Doran of Morag Loves Company and Roger Frappier of Max Films are producing.

Alliance Vivafilm will release The Grand Seduction in Canada.

Photo in story: Gordon Pinsent at the Genies / by George Pimenthal courtesy ACCT