Colin Farrell, Steve Coogan and Domhnall Gleeson are among the major names joining Netflix’s historical crime film Bad Bridgets. Charlie Heaton, Himesh Patel, Niamh Algar and Simone Kirby have also been added to the ensemble alongside previously announced leads Emilia Jones and Alison Oliver. Production is due to begin across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in July.
Written and directed by Kneecap filmmaker Rich Peppiatt, Bad Bridgets draws upon the real experiences of Irish women who emigrated to North America during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The film follows two sisters who flee poverty, hunger and an abusive father after receiving a mysterious letter offering them the chance to begin again in the United States. When they arrive in New York, they become part of an unruly community of Irish women known as the “Bridgets”, whose presence begins causing mayhem across the city. Emilia Jones, known for CODA, and Conversations with Friends star Alison Oliver will lead the story. Details surrounding the newly announced characters remain under wraps.
The film is inspired by research conducted by history professors Elaine Farrell and Leanne McCormick, who later published the nonfiction book Bad Bridget: Crime, Mayhem and the Lives of Irish Emigrant Women. Their work explored the lives of Irish women who moved to cities including New York, Boston and Toronto, where many found themselves facing poverty, exploitation and imprisonment.
Peppiatt will also produce the film, reuniting with several members of the creative team behind Kneecap. Cinematographer Ryan Kernaghan joins production designer James Price and costume designer Kate Hawley. LuckyChap and Coup d’Etat are producing, with support from Northern Ireland Screen.
For CultureCues, this was already an intriguing project, but the arrival of such a strong Irish and British ensemble makes Bad Bridgets even more exciting. Peppiatt brought energy and originality to Kneecap, and turning this overlooked piece of history into a full crime saga feels like a fascinating next step.
Bad Bridgets will begin filming in Ireland this summer. Netflix has not yet announced a release date.
Nikki Murray is a UK-based writer, screenwriter and founder & editor of CultureCues, covering film, television, music and pop culture. Her work focuses on storytelling and the moments shaping modern entertainment.