A movie about a racehorse from a Cefn Fforest allotment who won the 2009 Welsh Grand National will be filmed this spring.
The movie, which is based on the real life story of racehorse Dream Alliance, will star Hollywood actors Damian Lewis and Toni Collette.
The film, called Dream Horse, has been wirtten by Neil McKay and directed by Bafta-winner Euros Lyn.
Australian actress Collette will play Jan Vokes – a barmaid at a working men’s club who brings together a group of people to breed the champion horse.
Meanwhile, Homeland actor Lewis will take on the role of accountant Howard Davies.
Director Lyn said: “I grew up in the Welsh Valleys where everyone knows this story – it’s a local legend.
“The moment I read Neil’s brilliant script I knew I had to direct this funny and moving film.
“Casting Toni Collette as Jan Vokes, our extraordinary heroine and Damian Lewis as Howard Davies, her intriguingly conflicted accomplice is my own dream come true.
He added: “They’re the perfect actors to tell this true story of how against all the odds, an ordinary woman inspires her community to go on the ride of a lifetime and rediscover a sense of hope.”
Dream Horse is being funded by Film4, Ingenious Media and Ffilm Cymru, and has been supported by the Welsh Government.
Warner Bros will release the film in the UK.
Film4 describe the film as “a classic story of triumph against adversity, and a tale of how a woman strives to make her dream a reality in a place where hope is thin on the ground.”
Ffilm Cymru’s Foot in the Door programme will allow aspiring Welsh creatives to gain first-hand experience of working on a film production set.
The film was inspired by Louise Osmond’s documentary Dark Horse, which focuses on the same story.
Producer Katherine Butler said “I fell in love with this story when I first heard about Louise Osmond’s documentary – and when I met the real people involved, I was hugely inspired by both their steely determination and their joyous outlook on life.
“Our brilliant writer Neil McKay spent hours with many of the people whose story this is, to craft an exciting, moving and often hilarious script.
“Euros Lyn’s immediate and passionate response to the script completely convinced us that he was born to direct this film.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled with our dream casting of Toni Collette and Damian Lewis, and together with the support of all our financiers, the local Welsh cast and crew and the horse racing community, we are off to the races.”
Dream Horse is expected to hit cinemas next year.