Rhys Ifans rocks the Boat

It’s been a while since we’ve seen the name Richard Curtis attached to a big screen movie (that would be 2004’s Bridget Jones sequel). He’s been busy promoting good causes, tinkering with other scripts and churning out TV movies, but now he’s stepping back behind the word processor – and the camera - for the first time since Love Actually.

The Boat That Rocked will eschew the usual multi-strand tale of romance or Hugh Grant frippery that made Curtis’ name, instead setting its tale on a floating pirate radio station of the ‘70s manned by DJ Kenneth Branagh and pal Rhys Ifans. Love fans shouldn’t worry though – there’s still room for the mushy stuff, though it’ll be awkward as We Are Marshall’s January Jones will visit the boat to meet her boyfriend and falls for Ifans.

It’ll shoot in London next month and Variety has the full report .