FACTS
Original Title
Chasing Millions
Genre
Comedy, Crime, Thriller
Production Year
2025
Country of Origin
Ireland and Australia
Language Spoken
English
Length
100 mins approx.
Budget
4 million EUR
Release Date
TBC by Eclipse Films (Ireland) and Bonsai Films (Australia)
Director
Stephen Burke
Scriptwriters
Stephen Burke and Katherine Thomson
Cast
Christopher Eccleston, Madeleine Madden
Production Company
Mammoth Films and Invisible Republic
Producers
Jane Doolan and Michael Wrenn
Shooting Date
June 2nd 2025
A mismatched pair of detectives must track down £26 million in missing cash — but in Belfast, nothing is what it seems.
SYNOPSIS
CHASING MILLIONS is a character based, comedy drama heist film inspired by the £26 million pound robbery of the Northern Bank in Belfast, the biggest bank robbery in British and Irish history. The Northern Bank chain was owned by National Australia Bank. DIANA, an Australian police detective who is on family business in Belfast at the same time, seizes the opportunity to investigate the biggest crime of her career and prove herself to her bosses back home. Diana is teamed with CRAYFORD, a cynical, veteran Northern Irish police detective who does not want her help.
The robbery takes place during Christmas 2004. Northern Ireland has been at peace for six years, but old enmities, and mistrust remain. The police immediately believe the recently disbanded IRA are the only ones capable of pulling off such a sophisticated robbery. A rumour on everyone’s lips is that the money is intended as a retirement fund for them. But there is no proof, little evidence, and absolutely no sign of the stolen millions.
For Diana, finding the money becomes personal and a possible chance of promotion. But despite her best efforts, somehow the thieves always manage to stay one step ahead. Diana is increasingly frustrated as the case takes one more bizarre turn after another, including the thieves taunting the detectives with bundles of stolen cash. As Diana and Detective Crayford become increasingly isolated in this seemingly impossible investigation, they learn to grudgingly respect each other. When all seems lost, Diana comes up with an ingenious plan which could make the stolen millions worthless.
THE TEAM
STEPHEN BURKE
WRITER AND DIRECTOR
Stephen Burke is an award-winning Irish writer and director. A graduate of the Dublin Institute of Technology, he began his career making acclaimed short films about the Northern Ireland conflict, including After ’68 and ’81, which won numerous international awards.
He directed the drama series No Tears for RTÉ, starring Brenda Fricker, which won the Golden Nymph for Best Drama Series at the Monte Carlo Television Festival. His feature film credits include Happy Ever Afters, a wedding comedy starring Oscar nominee Sally Hawkins, and Maze, a critically acclaimed prison-break thriller distributed by Lionsgate, which topped the Irish box office and earned Critics’ Picks from The New York Times and the LA Times.
Burke is the author of two novels, The Good Italian and The Reluctant Contact, both published by Hodder & Stoughton. He is currently the lead writer on a TV series based on The Reluctant Contact, and writer/director of Chasing Millions, his latest feature.
Filmography – List of highlights
Chasing Millions (Feature, Writer/Director) – In production.
Maze (Feature, Writer/Director) – Lionsgate release, Netflix/Hulu, Critics’ Pick (New York Times, LA Times), 4 IFTA nominations.
Happy Ever Afters (Feature, Writer/Director) – Starring Sally Hawkins, theatrical release (IFC, Buena Vista), multiple IFTA acting nominations.
Anner House (TV Movie, Director) – Based on a story by Maeve Binchy, starring Liam Cunningham.
No Tears (TV Series, Director) – Winner, Golden Nymph for Best Drama Series, Monte Carlo Television Festival.
’81 (Short, Writer/Director) – Winner Best Film (Flickerfest), Prix Europa finalist.
After ’68 (Short, Writer/Director) – Winner Best European Short (Cork Film Festival), Grand Prix (Oberhausen).
Boris (Short, Writer/Director) – Irish Film Board Short Short.
The Reluctant Contact (Novel, Writer) – TV adaptation in development.
The Good Italian (Novel, Writer) – Nominated for HWA Best Historical Novel, RNA Historical Fiction Prize.
MICHAEL WRENN
PRODUCER
Michael Wrenn (Invisible Republic) has been in the film industry for 30+ years working in exhibition, distribution, production, sales and acquisitions in both the UK, France and Australasia. And is now a producer. Prior to this he worked hard at completing a wayward education in bands and bars, running nightclubs, working in kitchens, etc. while being sure to keep his reading and thinking up.
Michael was Executive Producer on Kim Mordaunt’s The Rocket (Berlin 2013 Best First Feature, Crystal Bear and Amnesty Prize), Ivan Sen’s Cannes selected Mystery Road (2014), Gillian Armstrong’s docu-drama Women He’s Undressed (2016) and Priscilla Cameron’s The Butterfly Tree (2017 MIFF, TIFF), amongst others.
He was also Producer on the US adaptation of Ron Rash’s 2015 The World Made Straight, shot in North Carolina, directed by David Burris (Producer/Director of TV series Survivor), released in the US in 2015. Old band mates, David and Michael went to high school together in Raleigh, North Carolina and are developing other projects to make in the state.
Other recent productions include Three Summers by writer/director Ben Elton (Blackadder, The Young Ones) and French co-production Slam. Macario de Souza’s 6 Festivals shot at Australia’s leading music festivals through COVID (2020-2021) selling to Paramount+ for the world.
Latest feature, Audrey, directed by Natalie Bailey and starring Jackie van Beek launched at SxSW, 2024 is now on release in US and UK.
Michael is a member of ACE (Ateliers Cinema Européen).
JANE DOOLAN
PRODUCER
Jane Doolan is an award-winning Irish producer and founder of Mammoth Films, with over 30 years of experience in film production and distribution.
She began her career producing films such as Into The West (dir. Mike Newell), In The Border Country (dir. Thaddeus O’Sullivan), and Moondance (dir. Dagmar Hirz).
As founder of Clarence Pictures, Ireland’s first independent theatrical and video distribution company, she released hundreds of titles including The Usual Suspects, Trainspotting, Secrets and Lies, and Adam and Paul.
At Mammoth Films, her recent producing credits include the critically acclaimed Maze (dir. Stephen Burke), which sold to over 100 territories and earned Critics’ Picks in the New York Times and LA Times, Citizen Lane (dir. Thaddeus O’Sullivan), and Wolf (dir. Nathalie Biancheri), starring George MacKay and Lily-Rose Depp, which premiered at TIFF 2021 and secured a worldwide deal with Universal and Focus Features.
She was executive producer on Shadows (dir. Carlo Lavagna).
Jane is currently producing Chasing Millions and developing and adapting a slate of acclaimed novel’s including The End of the World is a Cul de Sac by Lousie Kennedy; The Reluctant Contact by Stephen Burke, and Pat O’Shea’s children’s classic The Hounds of The Morrigan. Mammoth Films has received support from Creative Europe’s Slate funding.
"Chasing Millions is a darkly funny exploration of post-conflict Northern Ireland, seen through the eyes of two unlikely detectives chasing a heist that unravels faster than they can keep up." Stephen Burke, director
CONFIRMED CAST
CHRISTOPHER ECCLESTON
CRAYFORD
MADELEINE MADDEN
DIANA
In 2011, he won the Emmy for Best Performance by an Actor for his role in the TV crime-drama, Accused. Other starring credits include Flesh and Blood, The Shadowline, Lennon Naked, The Leftovers, The A Word, Come Home, Dodger and True Detective – Night Country with Jodie Foster.
Christopher’s film career was launched in 1991’s critically acclaimed Let Him Have It. Then, in 1994, he collaborated with the Academy Award-winning Danny Boyle on the director’s first feature, Shallow Grave , closely followed by Jude. Other noted appearances include Elizabeth, 24 Hour Party People, 28 Days Later, Legend and The Young Woman And The Sea.
Christopher has appeared in a diverse range of theatrical productions, including Hamlet (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Miss Julie (Haymarket Theatre), Antigone (National Theatre) and the titular role in the RSC’s production of Macbeth. In 2023 he starred as Ebenezer Scrooge in the Old Vic’s critically acclaimed A Christmas Carol.
Christopher wrapped filming on Netflix’s psychological thriller series Out of The Dust in late 2024.
His memoir ‘I Love The Bones of You’ was published in 2019.
Madeleine Madden is a dynamic Australian actor whose career spans international television, film, and stage. She gained national attention at age 13 with a historic televised Address to the Nation advocating for Indigenous rights.
She currently stars as Egwene Al’Vere in Prime Video’s The Wheel of Time across three seasons and leads the cast of the animated series Ark, voicing the protagonist alongside an ensemble including Michelle Yeoh and David Tennant.
Her film work includes Around the Block with Christina Ricci, and Paramount’s Dora and the Lost City of Gold.
Madden has also starred in acclaimed Australian series such as Redfern Now, The Code, Mystery Road, Pine Gap, and Picnic at Hanging Rock.
She made her stage debut in Sydney Theatre Company’s The Secret River, directed by Neil Armfield, and will next appear in Strife (Season 2) and Natalie Erika James’ next feature Saccharine.
"The film offers a fresh and entertaining take on a real event, while exploring deeper themes of trust, ambition, and identity in a society still healing from its past." - Jane Doolan, producer
Director's Statement
This film marks my first exploration of post-conflict Northern Ireland through a primarily comedic lens. The aftermath of the Northern Bank robbery, with its many twists and unexpected turns, offers a perfect foundation for a dark, character-driven comedy. Diana, our Australian detective, brings an outsider’s perspective, shedding light on the mishandling of the investigation by the local police. Through the evolving relationship between Diana and Crawford, we also delve into the lingering tensions and unresolved issues in the immediate post-conflict era.
I’m particularly excited that this Irish Australian co-production will be filmed in Dundalk and Dublin, two locations that bring authenticity to our story. I’m also thrilled to have the support of both Screen Ireland and Screen Australia, which is a testament to the film’s strong potential and international appeal.