The film follows the unlikely friendship that developed between McGuinnness and Dr Ian Paisley when they shared power in Stormont after decades of animosity.

Director Nick Hamm is writing the script with Divorcing Jack’s Colin Bateman and aims to kick off filming in Northern Ireland and Scotland in the middle of next month.

Dessie Curly himself, Colm Meaney, will play Martin McGuiness in The Journey, opposite an already cast Timothy Spall – portraying Sir Ian Paisley.

The fictional drama will chronicle the story of how the one-time enemies came together to herald the beginning of a new powersharing agreeement in Northern Ireland between the DUP and Sinn Fein. Stuart Ford’s IM Global is fully financing through its Acclaim specialty division with assistance from Northern Ireland Screen and will handle world sales.

Paisley, who died in September 2014 aged 88, was famous as a firebrand preacher and hardline unionist politician, while McGuinness (65) had made the transition from IRA leader to senior republican politician. The pair eventually got the nickname “the chuckle brothers” on account of the clear bonhomie between the former foes.

On Paisley’s death in past year, McGuinness fought back tears as he paid tribute to the reverend, saying “Once political opponents – I have lost a friend”.

And he has also appeared in a number of hit films including The Commitments, Con Air, The Damned United and Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa.