Cillian Murphy to produce and star in true tale of murdered union activist

The Cork actor obviously isn't slowing down since his Oscar win, with a Peaky Blinders film also being mooted

Cillian Murphy pictured at the Oscars. Picture: Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP

Oscar-winning actor Cillian Murphy is set to star in and produce a movie based on Mark A. Bradley’s book, Blood Runs Coal: The Yablonski Murders and the Battle for the United Mine Workers of America.

According to Deadline, the Cork actor will play labour attorney, Chip Yablonsk and will produce the film alongside Alan Moloney through Big Things Films.

Blood Runs Coal is set in the coal mines of Pennsylvania in the late 1960s. Murphy’s character is the son of Jock Yablonski, a coal miner who became an activist in the United Mine Workers union after his father was killed in an explosion. Jock Yablonski ran against a corrupt union president and was eventually murdered.

On New Year’s Eve, Yablonski was killed along with his wife and daughter, but his son Chip survived. He spent his life seeking justice for his father.

The epic tale will be scripted by Jez Butterworth and John-Henry Butterworth who have previously collaborated on Edge of Tomorrow (2014), starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt.

It comes after it was confirmed that Muphy would be returning for the upcoming Peaky Blinders movie.

Series creator Steven Knight said the star would reprise his role, with filming set to commence in September.

Murphy starred in the series as Tommy Shelby, the leader of the Birmingham-based gang, the Peaky Blinders.

Earlier this month, the Ballintemple native won an Oscar for his role in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer.

The win made him the first Irish-born person to win best actor at the Academy Awards.