Michael Fassbender to Film Night Boat to Tangier in Malaga

Michael Fassbender, Domhnall Gleeson, and Ruth Negga are set to star in the upcoming film adaptation of Kevin Barry’s novel Night Boat to Tangier. Production is scheduled to take place in the southern Spanish city of Malaga in late summer 2026.

The project is a co-production involving Fassbender’s DMC Film and Conor McCaughan. Hyde Park International is managing sales for the film, while StudioCanal has pre-purchased the rights for the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Plot and Adaptation Details

The film is based on the 2019 novel by Kevin Barry, which follows two small-time Irish criminals from Cork City. The characters, Charlie Redmond and Maurice Hearne, are described as fading gangsters—one of whom is one-eyed and the other who is lame.

The narrative centers on a 24-hour period in a Spanish port town where the duo hides out while awaiting a ferry to Tangier. During this vigil, the pair shares stories of their criminal history and interacts with local characters. A primary driver of the plot is the search for Maurice’s estranged daughter, Dilly.

Kevin Barry has adapted his own book for the screen. Andrew Eaton of Turbine Studios has described the resulting script as his favorite he has ever had.

Production and Casting

The casting brings together three prominent actors of Irish and British descent. Michael Fassbender, known for The Killer, 12 Years a Slave, and Shame, will lead the project alongside Domhnall Gleeson, who has appeared in About Time and The Revenant, and Ruth Negga.

Turbine Studios, which is partly owned by BBC Studios, is overseeing the project. Andrew Eaton, a co-founder of Turbine and former co-founder of Revolution Films, indicated that the production is targeting Malaga for its filming locations due to the city’s specific atmosphere of sleaze and sun.

While James Marsh was previously attached to direct the film, reports indicate he has departed from the project. As of November 2025, an offer had been extended to an Irish director to take over the role.

Literary Background

The original novel, published on June 20, 2019, by Canongate Books, was longlisted for the 2019 Booker Prize. The book is characterized as a blend of psychological drama and gritty crime fiction, set specifically on October 23, 2018, in the terminal building of Algeciras, Spain.

The story explores the history of the two protagonists, who were previously involved in smuggling Moroccan hashish into Ireland via Spanish ports. This literary foundation provides the backdrop for the film’s exploration of the relationship between the two criminals as they wait in the port city.

The selection of Malaga as the filming location for the 2026 shoot aligns with the story’s requirement for a southern Spanish port setting, reinforcing the production’s goal to capture the specific environment described in Barry’s prose.