Sky1 have announced the start of production on SKELLIG, an adaptation of the David Almond’s Whitbread Children’s Award winning best-seller.

SKELLIG, the first production to benefit from Sky1’s multi-million pound HD drama investment fund, commenced principal photography on location in Cardiff this week.

Academy Award® nominee and BAFTA® winner Tim Roth (The Incredible Hulk, Funny Games) stars in the title role and heads an all-star cast that includes Academy Award® nominee Kelly MacDonald (No Country For Old Men, Trainspotting), Bill Milner (Son Of Rambow, Is There Anybody There?) and BAFTA® nominee John Simm (Life On Mars, State Of Play).

Conroy commented: “David Almond’s much-loved novel is the perfect production to showcase Sky1’s drama ambitions. Feel Films and Annabel Jankel have delivered an exceptional script that has attracted some of the best on-screen talent and we know this project will appeal to the child in all of us.”

Who is SKELLIG (Roth)? Or, more correctly, what?! When a move to a new house coincides with his baby sister’s illness, Michael’s (Milner) world seems suddenly lonely and uncertain. Then, one Sunday afternoon, he stumbles into the old, ramshackle shed in his new home, and finds something magical. A strange creature – part owl, part angel, a being who needs Michael’s help if he is to survive. But SKELLIG is far more than he at first appears, and his presence will change Michael’s life forever.