Producers from Dublin’s Deadpan Pictures and the Canadian company Shaftesbury Films are collaborating once more on “The Roaring Banshees,” which is based on the acclaimed play by John Morton and Peter McGann. The narrative centers around an all-female Irish rebel band navigating life as criminals in 1920s Chicago. This series is among those chosen for participation in the upcoming MIA Market in Rome, scheduled from October 6 to 10.
“The Roaring Banshees” kicks off in Ireland following a failed assassination plot against a prominent political figure carried out by the rebel group known as the Banshees. With danger lurking, the women flee aboard a ship bound for America, but they get separated and only come together again in the harsh Chicago winter of 1923. Their intent to remain low-key and avoid trouble until their past commander can secure their return home quickly unravels, complicating their attempts to go back to Ireland.
As they strive for survival amid Prohibition-era Chicago, with law enforcement on their tails and an Irish hitman hunting them down, the women are driven into the world of crime, peddling illegal alcohol to the Irish mob. However, as their operations expand, they draw the ire of violent gangsters, corrupt police, and their own volatile personalities, creating what the show’s creators call “a timeless gangster tale of immigrants making their mark in the land of opportunity and aspiration.”
Before the MIA Market events, Paul Donovan, co-founder of Deadpan Pictures, shared insights into “The Roaring Banshees,” drawing comparisons to series like “Peaky Blinders” and “Babylon Berlin.”
“It’s a cinematic, visually striking, premium, dramatic gangster saga—but it’s also meant to be entertaining and enjoyable,” he remarked. “We’re committed to providing entertainment without taking ourselves too seriously.”
Donovan reminisced about first witnessing the play that inspired the series during a theater festival in Dublin. “The audience was fully engaged—laughing, crying, cheering, and connecting with the characters,” he recalled.
Praising Morton’s work, with whom he previously collaborated on the Victorian-era drama “Dead Still” for Acorn TV, Donovan highlighted the inherent humor and entertainment woven into the narrative and quickly recognized its potential for screen adaptation.
“Much of the action transpired off-stage. There were explosions and gunfights that created a sense of dynamic action without being visualized,” he noted. Following the performance, Donovan pitched his vision to Morton and McGann, asserting that these action sequences would translate beautifully to film, saying, “Let’s create a bold, adventurous, and fun cinematic television piece.”
The plot arcs follow the rebel unit as they attempt to forge a new existence in America—stepping far beyond their comfort zones and straying from the cause for which they had dedicated their lives, according to Donovan.
“They are seasoned fighters from the Irish War of Independence but found themselves on the losing side during the subsequent Civil War. Their initial motivations for violence are complicated as they transition from soldiers to gangsters, entering a morally ambiguous world,” he explained. “This kind of gray area provides rich material for storytelling.”
Written by Morton and McGann and helmed by director Neasa Hardiman, known for her work on Netflix’s “Untamed” and Hulu’s “We Were the Lucky Ones,” “The Roaring Banshees” will comprise eight hour-long episodes filmed in Ireland and Hamilton, Ontario, which Donovan described as an effective substitute for 1920s Chicago.
Previously, Deadpan Pictures and Toronto-based Shaftesbury Films collaborated on “Irish Blood,” a mystery-drama series starring Alicia Silverstone which has recently been renewed for a second season.
“Our collaboration allows us to cover up to 45% of the financing,” Donovan stated. “We’ve established a strong partnership, and the Irish-Canadian co-production model effectively leverages various funding streams. At MIA, our objective is to attract additional partners to complete the funding.”
The MIA Market in Rome is set to take place from October 6 to 10.
