It’s been five years since the legendary TV series Derry Girls came to an end, and now its creator is finally back with an exciting new show — and a stellar Irish cast to match.
In How To Get To Heaven From Belfast, Lisa McGee turns her attention to another group of women, this time in their 30s, who find themselves thrown into an unexpected journey following a tragedy.
As production got underway, McGee shared her excitement in a statement, describing the female leads as “three flawed, funny women who are about to embark on the most thrilling and terrifying adventure of their lives.”
She added, “A mystery full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing and make you laugh out loud. Let’s go girls!”.
Even better? McGee is reuniting with Derry Girls director Michael Lennox, which means expectations are understandably sky-high that this dream team will strike TV gold once again.
Here’s everything we know so far about How To Get To Heaven From Belfast — including who’s taking on the starring roles.
Who is in How To Get To Heaven From Belfast?
The new Netflix show hosts a line-up of incredible Irish acting talent, including the following stars:
The Dry star Roísín Gallagher takes on the role of Saoirse, a clever, chaotic TV writer and one of the three main characters, who have all been friends since high school. The actress has a theatre background and has previously been nominated for an Irish Film and Television Academy Award, so she promises great performances.
Actor Caoilfhionn Dunne will take on the role of dependable, inhibited carer Dara. She's best known for her roles as Lizzie in Love/Hate, Jackie Walsh in Industry, and films like Saint Maud and In View, earning IFTA and Evening Standard nominations.
Stressed-out mother of three, Robyn, is played brilliantly by Sinéad Keenan (Little Boy Blue, Unforgotten). Keenan also appeared in one Derry Girls episode, so we can't wait to see more of her acting chops in this new show.
And the final moments of the trailer revealed something very exciting, namely, a Derry Girls alum! Yep, Saorise-Monica Jackson is in the show! We know next to nothing about her role, except that she's wearing a fabulous pink wig and pearls, and eating ice cream. We want more immediately. (Also, if she could share that lip combo, we'd be very grateful).
Eagle-eyed millennials might recognise Ardal O'Hanlon from his role in series three of Skins, where he played Naomi's teacher at college. However, he's probably best known for his role in the Irish hit sitcom, Father Ted, where he played Father Dougal McGuire. In How To Get To Heaven From Belfast, he'll play Seamus, who we don't know much about yet. Watch this space.
Best known for her work in Brassic and Pulp Fiction, Irish actress and singer Bronnagh Gallagher will play Booker, who we don't know much about either, but she does have a pretty cool cowgirl-inspired wardrobe that we're excited to see more of.
You might recognise Josh Finan from the TV series Say Nothing, where he played the former Sinn Feinn president Gerry Adams with a pretty convincing Belfast accent (despite hailing from the Wirral himself). In the new Netflix show, he'll play Jason — and will likely pull on that accent training for this new role, too.
MobLand and Kin star Emmett J. Scanlan will take on the role of Owen, who we don't know much about yet. You can also catch Emmett on this year's The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer later this spring.
What is How To Get To Heaven From Belfast about?
Above all, it's about “friendship, memory and what happens when life doesn’t turn out quite like you’d expected”, according to the show's plot synopsis.
It will deal with three lead female characters: “Clever, chaotic TV writer Saoirse, glamorous, stressed-out mother of three Robyn and dependable, inhibited carer Dara have been a tight-knit group since school," the plot summary reads. "Now in their late 30s, but still as close as ever, these three friends are about to embark on the most thrilling adventure of their lives.
“When an email arrives, telling them about the death of the estranged fourth member of their childhood gang, Greta, a series of eerie events at her wake set them on a dark, dangerous and hilarious odyssey through Ireland and beyond as each tries to piece together the truth of the past."
We're invested already.
Where can I watch How To Get To Heaven From Belfast?
Although Derry Girls was released on Channel 4, How To Get To Heaven From Belfast will be released on Netflix, due to costs and “changes in editorial direction.”
“Unfortunately, due to changes in editorial direction as the development process progressed, coupled with rising costs and the recent cooling in the US co-production market, it became impossible to get the right international partner and funding plan in place,” a representative for Channel 4 has said. “We wish Lisa and Hat Trick Productions all the best and look forward to working together on future projects.”
When will How To Get To Heaven From Belfast be released?
February 12th! Mark your calendars, check your Netflix subscription, and get ready for the release of How to Get to Heaven From Belfast — a darkly funny, twist-filled ride from Lisa McGee.
Watch this space for more updates as we inch closer to launch.
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