Steve Coogan to star in apartheid drama

The Alan Partridge star and Oscar-nominated screenwriter has signed on for a role in South African drama Shepherds and Butchers


Steve Coogan at the recent premiere of his new TV show Happyish. Photograph: Everett/Rex Shutterstock

Steve Coogan has signed up for a role in new South Africa-set drama Shepherds and Butchers, according to

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.

The actor, who was nominated for two Oscars for producing and writing

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, will be taking on a key role in the new film from director

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. The story starts as apartheid is crumbling and a lawyer decides to defend a white prison guard who has been charged with killing seven black men.

The film is based on a book by

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based on a true story from 1987 that made headlines across South Africa.

Schmitz has directed a number of TV movies and local films, including Life, Above All. The script has been written by Brian Cox, who will also produce. Cox also produced the Samuel L Jackson thriller Kite and co-produced Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.

Since Philomena, Coogan has had a small role in Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, and will have a voice role in the

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spin-off Minions. He also has a new starring role on TV in Happyish, a Showtime comedy drama that was originally set to star Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Shepherds and Brothers will start shooting in June.